On Sunday, January 5, 2025, at approximately 12:01 a.m., 49-year-old Rontonio Scott of St. Petersburg drove northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 275. He caused a wrong-way collision near the 28th Street S exit in St. Petersburg. Three other vehicles were involved in the rollover crash, which resulted in $250,000 in property damage and serious injuries to multiple victims.
Dash camera footage from a Tesla SUV involved in the crash captured Scott’s vehicle driving head-on into traffic before the collision. Responding officers identified the driver at the scene as the sole occupant of the car, lodged in the driver’s seat. Identification was confirmed through his Florida driver’s license.
Scott was transported to the hospital, where officers noted signs of severe impairment, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, confusion, and difficulty staying awake.
According to court documents, Scott admitted to being the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, stating they had consumed two shots of “Don Julio” tequila at a bar approximately one hour before the crash. Medical staff reported that the defendant’s blood alcohol content was unlawfully high, with a voluntary blood sample pending further lab analysis.
Two victims sustained significant injuries in the crash:
A male in one of the other vehicles suffered fractures to his left pelvis, femur, and ankle, liver damage, and underwent emergency surgery to remove his spleen. He requires a hip replacement and faces a substantial risk of long-term impairment, including difficulty walking.
A female in one of the other vehicles was treated for chest trauma and airbag burns sustained in the collision.
Records indicate that Scott has a prior DUI conviction from 2018 in Pinellas County, which was reduced to reckless driving with an adjudication of guilt.
Scott was booked into the Pinellas County Jail at 9:48 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025, and faces multiple charges related to DUI and causing serious bodily injury. He was released on a surety bond at 11:29 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
The investigation remains ongoing.