Kissimmee resident charged with DUI as wrong-way crash inflicts serious injuries on two
A Kissimmee man was apprehended by the Florida Highway Patrol in Hillsborough County during the early hours of Thursday. The arrest came after the man was allegedly involved in a wrong-way crash resulting from drunk driving, which left two individuals with severe injuries. The incident transpired around 1:45 a.m. on northbound State Road 589, located just south of State Road 568, commonly known as Dale Mabry Extension, according to troopers.
The preliminary crash report furnished by the Florida Highway Patrol sheds light on the details of the incident. The accused, identified as Ramon Rivera, 45, was reportedly traveling in the wrong direction, proceeding southbound within the northbound lanes of SR-589. Consequently, the Infiniti Q50 he was operating collided nearly head-on with a northbound Acura TL.
Both the driver and the passenger of the Acura, a 21-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, respectively, hailing from Trinity, suffered grave injuries as a result of the crash. Emergency responders promptly transported them to a nearby medical facility for immediate treatment and care, as relayed by the troopers at the scene.
Ramon Rivera, however, emerged with minor injuries from the accident and was subsequently transported to a hospital for medical evaluation, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. After several hours, he was placed under arrest by a trooper who had observed telltale signs of intoxication such as bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath. A sworn affidavit further stated that Ramon remained uncooperative with the trooper, refusing to communicate after being apprised of his Miranda rights.
The charges Ramon Rivera is set to face include driving under the influence (DUI), DUI with property damage or personal injury, and DUI with serious bodily injury, in accordance with the Florida Highway Patrol’s statement. It is important to note that the map accompanying this article provides a general depiction of the crash area, rather than indicating its exact location.
In conclusion, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. The Florida Highway Patrol’s swift response and subsequent arrest of the accused offer a testament to their commitment to ensuring public safety on the state’s roadways.
