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Driver charged with DUI manslaughter in wreck that kills 2

Photo courtesy Tampa Fire Rescue

A three-vehicle crash on Florida Avenue has left two people dead.

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 13, 2009

Updated: 04/13/2009 07:57 pm

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Randy Archiquette

TAMPA - A driver who caused a chain reaction crash on Florida Avenue that killed two women this afternoon was driving under the influence, Tampa police say.

Randy Archiquette, 39, is charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death.

Police say Archiquette, of 12610 Bramfield Lane, Riverview, was driving north on Florida Avenue shortly before 4 p.m. when his 2007 gold Chevrolet Yukon struck a car driven by Betty Williams, 69, of Tampa, police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

Williams suffered broken bones and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she later died, Davis said.

Archiquette's sport utility vehicle then veered into oncoming traffic at the intersection of Hillsborough Avenue and collided head-on with a 1997 tan Buick driven by Brittany McFarland, 20, of Tampa, Davis said.

McFarland's car spun and hit a wrecker towing a vehicle. Archiquette's Yukon flipped and landed on its roof a block north of Mohawk Avenue. The driver of the tow truck was not hurt.

It took firefighters 30 minutes to cut McFarland out of her vehicle. She was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she later died, Davis said.

The crash scene was extensive, covering a four-block area. Florida Avenue near Hillsborough and Comanche avenues was closed for more than three hours as authorities investigated.

Archiquette was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with minor injuries. His blood was drawn at the hospital and results showed that his blood alcohol level was higher than the .08 level at which the state considers a person too impaired to drive, Davis said.

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