A multi-vehicle hit-and-run on U.S. 19 in Pasco County turned deadly YESTERDAY, leaving one man dead and at least two women with life-altering injuries, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers. The driver accused of setting off the chain-reaction wreck on the busy north-south corridor was arrested hours later after a search that stretched into neighboring Hernando County.
What troopers say
Florida Highway Patrol troopers identified the suspected driver as Gregorio Santoni-Reyes and say the crash unfolded shortly before 9:30 a.m. on U.S. 19 just north of Little Road, according to FOX 13. Investigators say Santoni-Reyes was behind the wheel of a Toyota that first hit a Mazda, then sideswiped a Ford SUV. The impact forced the Ford across the median into oncoming traffic, where it slammed head-on into a Hyundai.
Troopers say that head-on collision killed 41-year-old Jonathan M. Quiles and left two women with catastrophic injuries. What started as one driver’s alleged bad decisions quickly became a nightmare for everyone caught in the path of the SUV.
How investigators tracked him down
A witness told troopers Santoni-Reyes pulled over briefly in the northbound left lane with his hazard lights flashing, then drove off instead of staying at the scene. Hernando County deputies later found him roughly 14 miles away in a Walgreens parking lot on Cortez Boulevard near Spring Hill, as reported by WTSP.
Troopers say Santoni-Reyes showed obvious signs of impairment and later tested at a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.177, which is more than double Florida’s legal limit.
Arrest and charges
According to troopers, things did not calm down once Santoni-Reyes was taken to a hospital. They say he became combative, threatened a trooper and tried to leave his room before staff and law enforcement intervened. He was ultimately sedated, restrained and arrested shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to FOX 13.
He now faces a stack of felony charges, including hit-and-run involving death, several counts of hit-and-run causing serious bodily injury and property damage, and multiple DUI-related charges, including DUI manslaughter. Troopers say he is also charged with obstructing without violence and threatening to kill a law enforcement officer.
What comes next
The crash remains under active investigation, and troopers are asking anyone who saw what happened, or who may have relevant information, to contact the Florida Highway Patrol. Initial details come from FHP arrest reports shared with local outlets, including WTSP, and more information is expected as prosecutors formally file charges and additional public records are released.
