CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL — An early Saturday morning wrong-way crash on northbound Interstate 75 in Charlotte County left a Bradenton woman dead, seriously injured three people from Arcadia and led to the arrest of a Sarasota man accused of driving under the influence, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The four-vehicle crash happened around 1:15 a.m. near mile marker 150.
A 2020 Ford F-150 was traveling south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 when it struck a 2016 Kia Optima and a 2012 Honda CR-V, troopers said.
A 2023 Tesla Model 3 then hit crash debris after the initial impact and sustained minor damage.
The driver of the Honda, a 21-year-old woman from Bradenton, was pronounced dead at the scene, FHP said.
In the Kia, the driver, a 34-year-old woman, and two passengers, boys ages 12 and 15, all from Arcadia, suffered serious injuries and were taken to an area hospital.
The Tesla driver, a 19-year-old woman from Sarasota, was uninjured in the crash.
Troopers identified the truck’s driver as Dennis Lee Olson, 53, of Sarasota. He suffered non-incapacitating injuries and was brought to an area hospital.
Upon release, troopers placed Olson under arrest for vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter. He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail.
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