Crime & Safety

Minor Injuries in Latest Wrong-Way Crash

The accident happened on U.S. 19 south of Aripeka Road.

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Sherri Lonon, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

While serious injuries were avoided in the Tampa Bay area’s latest wrong-way crash, one motorist faces a number of charges.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened Sunday around 7:25 p.m. as Gregory Michael Henry, 60, of Port Richey was heading northbound in the southbound center lane of U.S. 19, south of Aripeka Road. At this time, a Dodge van driven by Loraine LaChance, 59, of San Antonio was heading southbound in the southbound center lane. LaChance spotted Henry and tried to avoid the crash, however, the left front of Henry’s Ford Escort struck her van.

While LaChance pulled over after the crash, Henry kept on driving northbound in the southbound lanes.

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Motorist Robert Kohnke witnessed the crash and followed Henry in the actual northbound lanes, attempting to get a license plate number, troopers said. Kohnke followed Henry until he lost sight of him on Spring Hill Drive in Hernando County.

At that time, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office caught up with Henry.

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Henry was arrested on a DUI charge and was also cited for leaving the scene of a crash, driving in the wrong direction and having no registration or insurance.

Both LaChance and Henry suffered minor injuries in the crash, troopers said.

Wrong-way crashes have claimed the lives of 11 people in the Tampa Bay area since the year began. There were two other wrong-way incidents over the weekend in the Bay area.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol

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