TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Head-On Crash Driver Charged With DUI-Manslaughter

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/18/2009 10:55 am

The driver of a 1993 Dodge van has been charged with DUI-manslaughter following a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer late Tuesday that killed one of the driver's passengers.

Hillsborough County deputies arrested Efren Altunar, 33, of Dover. He also was charged with two counts of driving under the influence-causing serious bodily injury and and three counts of driving without a valid license-causing serious bodily injury or death, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Jail Web site..

Because their next of kin have not been notified, the name of the person who died in the crash and the names of Altunar's other passengers were not released. Altunar and the injured passengers were taken to Tampa General Hospital. Altunar is in serious condition, and the others are in critical condition.

A blood test is pending on Altunar's blood-alcohol level, the Web site shows.

The crash occurred 11:26 p.m. on Moores Lake Road, north of Black Jack Road.

Altunar's van was heading north when it crossed the center line and struck a tractor-trailer heading south, deputies say. Altunar's right-front passenger died at the scene. He and two other passengers were flown to Tampa General.

The 2004 tractor-trailer's driver, Colin P. Meadows, 40, of Ocala, was not injured.

Altunar's bail hasn't been set.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT