St. Petersburg Man Hides After Leaving Scene of DUI Wrong Way Crash
Posted: June 10, 2016
A St. Petersburg man was involved in crash on I-75 just north of the Hillsborough/Manatee County Line. The crash occurred about 3:30 AM on Friday, June 10, 2016.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that at approximately 3:30 AM, the Tampa Bay Regional Communications center received a report of suspected wrong way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75 just north of the Hillsborough/Manatee County Line.
Dispatch then received a report that the same wrong way vehicle struck a tractor trailer that was traveling north in the outside lane of I-75. Trooper Shawn Edge arrived on scene to investigate the crash.
No injuries were sustained by the truck driver. The wrong way vehicle was described as a small SUV with significant damage from the collision with the Tractor Trailer. Hillsborough Troopers continued south on I-75 in attempt to locate the vehicle. They later located a 2004 Ford Explorer with heavy front damage on the inside shoulder of I-75 at Mile Marker 232 facing south in the northbound lanes abandoned.
Trooper Joseph Angelicchi attempted to set up a perimeter with the assistance of Hillsborough County Deputies and their helicopter. The registered owner of the vehicle, 29 year-old Justin Garrett of St. Petersburg, was later located on the west side of the roadway in a grass ditch attempting to hide.
Trooper Angelicchi placed Garrett under arrest for leaving the scene of the crash, and DUI. He was also cited for driving the wrong way. He was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail without further incident
Garrett was been a Deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office since 2011. He been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.