TAMPA, Fla. — An off-duty Hillsborough County deputy has reportedly been hospitalized with serious injuries after a wrong-way driver, who was already being chased down by state troopers, crashed into the deputy's car.
It happened just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday. That's when Florida Highway Patrol said it received reports of a red Dodge Ram pickup truck traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-275 across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
A state trooper responded to the incident and tried to perform a PIT maneuver to try and stop the driver, who authorities later identified as 25-year-old Yosman Alexander Ixpata Xitumul of Brandon.
Xitumul continued to drive away at a "high speed" until eventually crashing head-on into the 33-year old off-duty deputy near the 17 milepost, officials say.
He was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, FHP said.
Xitumul ran away after the collision and was reportedly "impaired more than three times the legal limit."
St. Pete police officers eventually arrested Xitumul. He was also transported to the hospital for injuries and is facing multiple DUI charges, reckless driving with injury/damage and aggravated flee to elude with serious injuries.
