TAMPA, Fla. — Eleven people have died so far this year as the result of wrong-way crashes along Tampa area highways. And there has been an alarming increase in wrong-way driving arrests for impairment. Just about all of these crashes were caused by drivers who were impaired. In an effort to crack down on this disturbing trend, the Florida Highway Patrol is launching the first of three intensive patrols targeting DUI and wrong-way driving in the Tampa Bay area. Additional troopers from around the state will join their local counterparts and members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to help remove these dangerous drivers from the highways this Thursday through Sunday.
The Florida Highway Patrol will kick off the campaign on Thursday, October 16, with a press conference featuring FHP Director, Colonel David Brierton, State Senator Jeff Brandes, FDOT District 7 Secretary Paul Steinman and Major Alan Hill of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The press conference will be held at Troop C Headquarters, 11305 North McKinley Drive, Tampa, at 5 pm.
Florida Highway Patrol Officer Steve Gaskins joined the program to discuss in detail.
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