Wrong-Way Crash On Interstate Injures 3, Driver Charged With DUI

SEFFNER, FL — A Sarasota resident was charged with driving under the influence following a wrong-way crash Friday morning involving multiple cars on Interstate 4, according to police.

Florida Highway Patrol received a call around 3:40 a.m. about a Lexus SUV traveling in the wrong direction in the westbound inside lane near mile marker 10. Five minutes later, the Lexus collided with a westbound Mercedes sedan traveling in the inside lane, police said.

According to authorities, a pickup truck in the center lane braked to avoid a collision but was struck from behind by a flatbed truck. The impact caused the pickup truck to rotate onto the outside shoulder where it collided with a parked tractor-trailer, police said. The flatbed truck overturned, trapping the driver, according to authorities.

Three drivers were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.

The wrong-way driver — 22-year-old Arda Sengun — was arrested and charged with DUI with serious bodily injury, police said. According to authorities, Sengun's blood alcohol content at the time of the crash was o.187.

The crash closed westbound I-4 for nearly 5 hours.