State troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol arrested a man for DUI after a head-on collision on the Frankland Bridge in Pinellas County in the early morning hours of Thursday, November 1.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 25-year-old suspect was driving south in the northbound lanes of the bridge close to mile marker 34. He was behind the wheel of a 2008 Chrysler 300. The crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m. when he collided close to head-on with the driver of a 2013 Hyundai.
The man had initially been driving the correct way, but made a U-turn near the hump of the bridge and crashed shortly thereafter. Both he and the driver of the Hyundai were taken to the hospital. The wrong-way driver sustained minor injuries and the victim was in critical condition. The driver was charged with DUI involving serious injury and driving in the wrong direction.
Wrong-way drivers liable for accidents
When a driver is heading in the wrong direction and an accident occurs, that driver will almost always be liable for any injuries or property damage resulting from the crash. The criminal penalties for wrong-way driving can be harsh, especially when the accident involved impaired driving. Head-on collisions tend to happen at high speeds, leading to serious injuries or death for the parties involved.
For further information on how to proceed in a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a negligent driver, meet with a dedicated Bradenton attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.