Advertisement

Troopers blame drunken driver, 19, in Dale Mabry crash that sends five to hospital

 
Published May 31, 2012

TAMPA — Five people were hospitalized after a Tuesday crash that troopers said was caused when a 19-year-old drunken driver spun into oncoming traffic on Dale Mabry Highway.

Troopers said Miguel Angelo Rivera of Tampa was driving a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am north on Dale Mabry near Hillsborough Avenue about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday with three teenage passengers in the car: Angela Leann Oglesby, 17; Arthur Eugene Larry Miller, 17; and Edwin Rodriquez, 15.

Rivera lost control of the car and spun across the median and into southbound traffic, troopers said. According to the patrol, Rivera was driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Pontiac came to a stop in the path of a 2004 Hyundai Elantra driven by Lonnie James Glover, 46, of Tampa.

Glover apparently crashed into the rear of the Pontiac, causing the car to spin again in the opposite direction.

One of the Pontiac's passengers — Rodriguez, who was sitting in the back seat and not wearing a seat belt — was thrown from the car into the roadway, troopers said. He was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital with serious injuries.

All involved received medical care at the hospital. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Oglesby and Miller, who were not restrained, also suffered minor injuries.

After he was released from the hospital, Rivera was arrested on charges of careless driving, driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, DUI with property damage and DUI with injury, troopers said.

Each car sustained about $10,000 worth of damage.

Marissa Lang can be reached at mlang@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386.