A 13-year-old boy died and seven people were injured after a driver heading the wrong way crashed into a van Saturday night in Hardee County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Enemias Roblero Gonzalez was driving the wrong way on U.S. 17 about 11:30 p.m. when he crashed into a van with eight people on board.
Gonzalez, 28, of Zolfo Springs, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence manslaughter, seven counts of DUI with injuries and property damage, the FHP said. He is being held in the Hardee County Jail without bail, according to jail records.
Driving a 1999 Ford Explorer, Gonzalez was heading south in the northbound center lane of U.S. 17, about a half-mile north of State Road 64 in Zolfo Springs, an FHP report states.
Edward Coronado, 37, of Bowling Green, who was driving a 2000 Dodge Caravan, was heading north on U.S. 17 and veered to avoid Gonzalez; but he still crashed into Coronado's van, tearing off a piece of it, according to the FHP.
Adrian Rodriguez, 13, of Wauchula, was ejected from the van and killed.
All survivors of the van were taken to area hospitals. Three sustained serious injuries, and four sustained minor injuries, including Coronado.
Coronado sustained minor injuries, and his passenger, Olivia Coronado, 33, was seriously injured, according to the FHP. Everyone else in the van ranged in age from 12 to 16, and they live in Bowling Green.
Gonzalez, who was driving alone, received minor injuries, FHP said.
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