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Plant City Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

Jonah West

A Plant City man was arrested for DUI manslaughter after his 1997 Chevrolet minivan rear-ended a 1999 Jeep Wrangler on State Road 39 in Plant City late last night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Jonah West, 31, was driving southbound on State Road 39, near State Road 60 at about 11:30 p.m. when he failed to maintain control of his minivan and smacked into the Jeep, according to an FHP report.

This is what happened next, according to the report.

Because of the force of impact, the Jeep's driver, Wyman Fletcher, 30, of Plant City, lost control of the Jeep, drove onto the outside grass shoulder, overturned and struck a tree, a chain link fence and rolled over. Fletcher was thrown from the Jeep as it rolled over and the Jeep landed on top of him.

West drove off the road and hit a utility pole.

Fletcher was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital, where he later died.

West was arrested at the scene.

He refused a blood alcohol test and was booked into the Orient Road Jail, according to jail records No bond has been set.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

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