Wrong-Way Driver on Veterans Thought She was on I-75, Troopers Say

A 49-year-old woman faces DUI charges following an early morning incident on the Veterans Expressway Thursday.

According to an email from Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins, his agency received a call around 3:07 a.m. from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office about a driver heading northbound on the Veterans Expressway’s southbound lanes near Van Dyke Road. Trooper Ronald Evans was on patrol in the area and was able to catch up with the 1999 Chevrolet four-door deputies referenced.

Evans stopped the vehicle, Gaskins wrote, near the county line.

Evan conducted field sobriety tests on the driver and then placed her under arrest for DUI.

Lori Lee Downard of Zephyrhills was transported to the Pasco County Jail, where she blew 0.115 on a breathalyzer test, Gaskins said.

“Downard indicated she believed she was northbound on I-75, traveling to her home,” he added.

Downard is the second wrong-way driver caught on the Veterans Expressway this week.

Photo Credit: Dash cam image of the field sobriety tests provided by the Florida Highway Patrol.

See Also:

• Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on Veterans Expressway
• Wrong-Way Crashes: How Would You Prevent Them?
• 3 Dead in I-275 Wrong-Way Crash
• Wrong-Way Driver Collides with Ambulance in Fatal Crash
• Wrong-Way Driver Arrested in Clearwater
• Wrong-Way Driver Causes Fatal U.S. 301 Crash
• Chamberlain Teacher Arrested in I-75 Wrong-Way Driving Incident