ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers and area law enforcement agencies made more than 500 arrests and citations Wednesday to target dangerous driving on U.S. Highway 19.
More than 800 people were stopped on U.S. 19 as part of FHP's "Multi-Agency Speed Enforcement Detail," which saw a total of 11 agencies monitor drivers' speed from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Pinellas County to the Levy County line.
The results of Wednesday's effort are as follows:
- Total Stops: 811
- Total Arrests/citations: 520
- Total Warnings: 353
- Total DUIs: 3
- Drug Arrests: 10
- Move Over Violations: 59
- Speeding Citations: 242
- Driving While Suspended or No DL Violations: 12
A recent report by Consumer Affairs found the stretch of U.S. 19 in Pinellas County is the deadliest road by county in Florida. Researchers found that it had at least 94 fatalities since 2020.
One of the most recent incidents on Highway 19 saw a driver lead FHP troopers on a chase Monday in Pasco County. The driver, later identified as a 32-year-old Port Richey man, sideswiped multiple cars at four separate locations along the road, according to FHP.
The driver was arrested after crashing near Flora Avenue, FHP said. Two people were reportedly taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.