MANATEE COUNTY – FHP report an alleged drunk driver initiated a wrong-way crash involving four vehicles on Interstate 75 early Thursday morning that left two people seriously injured and resulted in the arrest of a driver for Driving Under the Influence, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

The crash occurred at approximately 4:00 AM on April 24, 2025, near mile marker 228 in the northbound lanes of I-75.

According to FHP, a 45-year-old Palm Beach man was driving an SUV southbound in the northbound lanes of the interstate. At the same time, three other vehicles—a pickup truck, a sedan, and another pickup truck—were all traveling northbound on I-75.

The wrong-way SUV collided head-on with the first pickup truck, driven by a 58-year-old woman from Port Charlotte, who was traveling with a female passenger. Both the driver and passenger sustained serious injuries. All occupants were reported to be wearing seat belts.

Following the initial impact, a sedan driven by a 39-year-old Port Charlotte man struck crash debris, entered the median, and collided with the cable barrier. A second pickup truck, driven by a 39-year-old man from Indianapolis, also hit crash debris but sustained only minor damage. Those drivers reported minor or no injuries.

Following a criminal investigation on the scene, the wrong-way driver was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence after submitting a breath sample with a BAC of .158—nearly twice the legal limit. He was booked into the Manatee County Jail.

The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

After Tragic Crash, FHP Says: Never Get Behind the Wheel While Impaired

This crash is a sobering example of the life-threatening consequences of driving under the influence—especially when it results in wrong-way travel on high-speed roads like I-75.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• More than 13,000 people were killed in DUI crashes in 2021, accounting for 31% of all traffic fatalities.
• Wrong-way crashes are most often caused by impaired drivers, and they are more than 100 times more likely to be fatal than other types of highway crashes.
• In Florida, over 800 lives are lost every year in alcohol-related traffic incidents.
• Never drive impaired. If you plan to drink, arrange for a designated driver, use a rideshare service, or stay put. Your decision could mean the difference between life and death—for yourself or others on the road.

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