Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
A 29-year-old Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputy was arrested and charged with DUI and leaving the scene of a crash after deputies say he caused an accident driving the wrong way.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 at 3:30 a.m. Friday when his Ford Explorer struck a semi-truck.
The crash happened near the Hillsborough-Manatee county line. There were no injuries in the crash.
Troopers believe the man drove off in his heavily damaged SUV, but abandoned the vehicle on the inside shoulder of I-75 at Mile Marker 232. A short time after discovering the damaged vehicle, troopers apparently found the man on the west side of the roadway attempting to hide, authorities said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the man is a District IV deputy, employed with HCSO since October 2011.
He has been suspended without pay pending an internal investigation.
When you are driving, there are few things more terrifying than seeing the headlights of another vehicle coming towards you head-on. A car driving towards you the wrong way can cause you to panic, whether you are on a road or interstate. Crashes frequently occur from wrong way driving and usually result in fatalities. Sadly, in the Tampa Bay area and the rest of Florida, these types of accidents seem to be on the rise.
At Whittel & Melton, our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers know how devastating it can be to lose a loved one or suffer a serious injury because of a wrong-way driver crash. If you or someone you care for has been harmed because of the negligent actions of a wrong-way driver, we can help.
Call us today at 727-823-0000 or contact us online for a free consultation.