TAMPA, Fla. — A wrong-way crash claimed the life of one person on the Selmon Expressway early Sunday morning, Tampa police said.
Police said 27-year-old Stephen Paleveda was driving a Ford F-250 truck east in the westbound lanes when it hit another vehicle head-on. Officers said the crash killed 68-year-old Bamnet Narongchai, who was hit by the truck.
Related: Tampa Bay is one of the worst areas for wrong-way crashes. Here's what Florida is doing about it
Police said Paleveda was driving without headlights on and failed to stop at several red lights. After the head-on crash on the expressway, Paleveda ran away from but was found close to the crash scene. investigators said.
Police also said alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Paleveda was taken to the hospital after the crash but was released and booked into the jail on Monday.
This is the second wrong-way fatal crash in the area in the last three days. A driver was killed when he was traveling the wrong way on the Howard Frankland Bridge, causing a three-vehicle crash early Friday morning.
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