Manatee County – Florida Highway Patrol has announced that one person has died after a DUI collision in Manatee County Sunday Night.
According to the report by FHP, the fatal crash began as a Hyundai Sonata driven by a 36 year- old woman from Tampa, Florida was headed northbound on U.S. Highway 41, in the southbound, inside (left) lane, north of Buckeye Road.
A second vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, driven by a 58-year-old man from Sarasota, Florida, with two passengers a 36-year-old woman from Bradenton Florida, and an 80-year-old woman from Bradenton, Florida were headed southbound on U.S. Highway 41 in the southbound, inside (left) lane approaching Buckeye Road.
At the time of the crash, it was foggy, and visibility was limited. At 3:33 A.M. the driver of the Jeep observed the Hyundai Sonata approaching and attempted to avoid the collision by steering the Jeep to the left, toward the grass median. However, the Hyundai Sonata’s right side collided with the Jeep Wrangler’s right side.
This impact caused the Jeep Wrangler to rotate clockwise as it traveled southeasterly direction onto the grass shoulder. Subsequently, the Jeep Wrangler overturned several times, ejecting the passenger in the Jeep Wrangler.
The Jeep Wrangler came to its final rest in an upright position, facing southwest on the grass median. After the impact with the Jeep Wrangler, the Hyundai Sonata rotated clockwise and traveled in a northwesterly direction, coming to a final rest facing southwest in the southbound travel lanes of U.S. Highway 41.
The right rear passenger of the Jeep Wrangler was pronounced deceased.
This passenger was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
The driver of the Hyundai Sonata was arrested for DUI Manslaughter, DWLSR causing Death, DUI Property Damage and Injury, and Reckless Driving.
The Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit continues to investigate this crash.