Uber driver, passenger killed in head-on crash with fleeing suspect in stolen car on Sunshine Skyway: FHP
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A fleeing suspect is accused of causing a deadly crash on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that claimed the lives of an Uber driver and his passenger on Wednesday night.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 22-year-old South Florida man in a stolen Ford Mustang rammed a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol car when deputies tried to pull him over.
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
Officials say the man, later identified as Leosvany Arias Roman, fled on southbound I-275 at a high rate of speed. HCSO's aerial unit tracked the Mustang and was able to give updates on its location.
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
When a state trooper tried to pull over the Mustang as it reached the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, FHP said it collided with the FHP vehicle, continued southbound to the top of the bridge, turned around, and rammed the FHP vehicle before continuing at high speed, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-275.
According to FHP, as the Mustang approached the northern rest area, it collided head-on with an Uber driver in a Dodge Caravan traveling with three passengers.
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
Troopers said the Uber driver, a 33-year-old Bradenton man, and one passenger, a 52-year-old man from Ohio, were killed in the crash. Two other passengers in the Caravan, a 51-year-old woman from Ohio and a 24-year-old Ohio woman, were seriously injured in the crash.
Family friends of the Uber driver said he was the most amazing father, friend, husband, and son. They, understandably, don't want to release his name at the moment.
Kevin Osborne was heading into work at the Skyway Bridge's northern rest area Wednesday night when he saw the aftermath of what he describes as the worst crash he has ever seen.
"I saw the cars, and they were demolished," he said. "I mean, very demolished. I'm just thinking of it as if it was my family member. I wouldn't know what to do. I mean, I would be tore all to pieces."
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
Roman also sustained serious injuries in the crash. He is being charged with felony murder, vehicular homicide, aggravated fleeing and eluding involving death, driving with a suspended license involving death and battery on a law enforcement officer.
A state trooper suffered minor injuries in the collision and was brought to the hospital.
The fatal crash closed the southbound lanes of I-275 until 6:40 a.m.