Ellenton woman charged with DUI after crashing into patrol SUV on I-75, FHP says
An “impaired” Ellenton woman slammed into a Florida Highway Patrol SUV early Friday morning, the agency said in a press release.
A marked Florida Highway Patrol SUV with emergency lights on was pulled over on the right shoulder of Interstate 75 near mile marker 222 when a sedan heading north drove directly into the rear of the patrol car, the release said.
The state trooper was outside of his vehicle at the time of the crash, directing traffic away from the work crew. He was not injured in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol says that the 25-year-old driver did not seem to notice the work crew or the SUV and instead entered the construction zone and continued to travel within the closed lane until it struck the patrol vehicle.
Photos shared by the Florida Highway Patrol show major damage to the front end of the Ellenton woman’s vehicle, as well as the back of the trooper’s SUV.
During the crash investigation, investigators say they discovered that the woman, whose name has not been publicly released, was impaired. She suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Troopers arrested the woman and took her to the Manatee County Jail, according to the release.
