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Troopers: Drunken 42-year-old Hudson man flees scene after crashing into two on motorcycle

 
Published Jan. 27, 2012

HUDSON — Troopers arrested a 42-year-old man who had been driving while intoxicated and fled the scene of a crash that sent two motorcyclists to the hospital Thursday, officials said.

Michael Andrew Del-Freo, 42, of Hudson was charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

Del-Freo was pulling out of a Sonoco gas station at 14316 U.S. 19, just before 11:45 p.m., when he drove into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, troopers said.

The motorcycle collided with the driver's side door of Del-Freo's Kia sedan, ejecting the two riders, officials said.

Gary S. Thomas, 62, and Janet M. Nash, 48, were thrown from the motorcycle into the street. Neither was wearing a helmet, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

But Del-Freo didn't stick around to see if the two motorcyclists were okay, officials said. He drove to his home at 14019 Shoal Drive, where he was arrested.

Thomas and Nash were taken to Bayonet Point Medical Center, where they remained in critical condition.

A breath-alcohol test showed Del-Freo had a concentration level of .148 to .153 — nearly twice the legal limit of .08 at which the state presumes a driver to be impaired.

An investigation is ongoing.