A 58-year-old Trinity man was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers Tuesday on charges including DUI manslaughter in a crash that killed his wife.
Troopers say Philip W. Billitteri, of 12107 Broadgreen Place, was driving drunk in his Chrysler PT Cruiser on April 30 when he cut off another vehicle in an intersection while he was trying to turn from Trinity Boulevard onto Tamarind Boulevard. The other driver didn't have time to stop, according to troopers, and the pickup hit the right side of the Cruiser, sending it spinning and partially ejecting Billitteri's wife, Sherry, who was not wearing a seat belt.
Sherry Billitteri was flown by medical helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg shortly after the 7:15 p.m. crash but she died about three hours later. She was 66.
Her husband, who was wearing a seat belt, came out of the crash with only minor cuts and bruises, according to a report. The other driver only had minor injuries as well.
Philip Billitteri's blood-alcohol level was 0.194 at the time which is more than twice the 0.08 limit in which state law presumes impairment.
He was booked into the Land O' Lakes Jail on Monday on charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI and two counts of DUI with property damage. He was released from jail early Wednesday after posting $10,300 bail. Billitteri couldn't be reached for comment.
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