PASCO COUNTY — A Florida Department of Transportation Road Ranger was struck and killed Sunday night while assisting at the scene of a crash on Interstate 75 in Pasco County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal incident occurred around 8:28 p.m. on July 12, 2026, near the 274-mile marker on I-75.
Troopers said FDOT Road Rangers had responded to a two-vehicle crash to assist with traffic control. While one of the Road Rangers, a 24-year-old Brandon man, was on foot setting up a lane closure, an Acura MDX drove between the two Road Ranger vehicles and struck him.
The Road Ranger suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to FHP, the driver of the Acura, 40-year-old Darren Christopher Jenkins of Bradenton, was taken into custody following the crash. Troopers said Jenkins provided a breath sample measuring 0.334, more than four times Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.
Jenkins was arrested and charged with DUI Manslaughter before being transported to the Pasco County Jail.
The investigation remains ongoing.