A terrifying wrong-way crash early Thursday morning on Interstate 75 in Manatee County, Florida, left two women seriously injured and resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old Palm Beach man for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The collision involved four vehicles and unfolded at approximately 4:00 a.m. on April 24, 2025, near mile marker 228 in the northbound lanes of I-75.
According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the man drove his SUV southbound in the northbound lanes, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving multiple innocent drivers.
The first vehicle struck was a pickup truck driven by a 58-year-old Port Charlotte woman, who had a female passenger at the time of the crash. The wrong-way SUV collided head-on with their vehicle, and both women sustained serious injuries. FHP confirmed that both victims were wearing seat belts.
Following the head-on collision, two more vehicles were impacted:
A sedan driven by a 39-year-old man from Port Charlotte struck debris and veered into the median, colliding with the cable barrier.
A second pickup truck, driven by a 39-year-old Indianapolis man, also hit debris. Both of these drivers reported only minor or no injuries.
After investigating the scene, Florida Highway Patrol officers arrested the wrong-way SUV driver. He submitted a breath sample with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .158 — nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Florida. He was booked into the Manatee County Jail, where he now faces DUI-related criminal charges.
FHP has confirmed that the crash remains under investigation.
In response to the crash, Florida Highway Patrol reminded the public that wrong-way crashes are among the most deadly types of collisions and are most often caused by impaired drivers.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Over 13,000 people were killed in DUI crashes in the U.S. in 2021, accounting for 31% of all traffic fatalities.
Wrong-way crashes are over 100 times more likely to be fatal than other types of collisions.
In Florida alone, more than 800 lives are lost each year due to alcohol-related traffic incidents.
These statistics underscore the devastating, yet entirely preventable, nature of drunk driving. Whether late at night or early in the morning, impaired drivers who choose to get behind the wheel endanger every other person on the road.
For the victims in this crash — two women now recovering from serious injuries — the road ahead will likely include hospital stays, physical rehabilitation, lost wages, and emotional trauma. But they do not have to navigate this difficult journey alone.
Victims of drunk driving accidents in Florida have the right to pursue civil legal action against the at-fault driver in addition to the criminal charges filed by the state. Through a personal injury lawsuit, injured parties may seek compensation for:
Medical expenses and future treatment
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Lost income or diminished earning capacity
Property damage
Punitive damages, especially in cases involving extreme recklessness or intoxication
Even when criminal charges result in jail time or fines, civil lawsuits can ensure victims receive the financial resources necessary to recover and rebuild their lives.
At Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, we are committed to standing with victims of drunk and reckless driving. We believe that DUI crashes are not accidents — they are preventable tragedies caused by individuals who chose to put lives at risk.
Our experienced legal team works with victims and families to pursue maximum compensation, hold drunk drivers accountable, and demand justice for the harm caused. We also explore whether other parties, such as bars or establishments that overserved alcohol, can be held liable under Florida’s dram shop laws.
If you or a loved one was injured in a DUI crash — whether involving a wrong-way driver or any form of impairment — contact Haggard Crime Victim Attorney today for a free consultation. We are here to help you take the next step toward justice and recovery.
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