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Authorities arrest man who caused wrong-way crash on I-275

 
Published July 20, 2012

TAMPA — Troopers arrested Christopher Ponce Friday, one day after he caused a crash by driving the wrong way on Interstate 275 that killed a driver and seriously injured two passengers.

Ponce, 22, of Tampa, was charged with driving under the influence manslaughter, vehicular homicide, two counts of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury and two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury.

Early Thursday morning, Ponce drove his 2012 Ford Fusion south down the northbound lanes of I-275 near the Downtown Tampa exit, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He collided head on in the center lane with William Brooks Angel, 20, of Wesley Chapel. Angel died of his injuries and his two passengers, 22-year-old Robert Patrick Newberry of Lutz and 20-year-old Jay Davis of Wesley Chapel, were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with serious injuries.

Ponce was released from Tampa General Hospital at 3:30 p.m. Friday and immediately arrested, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He will be taken to Orient Road Jail to await his first appearance before judge.