A Friday morning ride on State Road 60 in Hillsborough County ended in tragedy when troopers say a Mulberry man pulled his GMC Sierra out of a private driveway and into the path of a westbound Harley-Davidson, killing the rider at the scene and landing himself in jail on a DUI manslaughter charge. The collision happened around 6:45 a.m. near Clarence Gordon Jr Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers' Account And Arrest Details
Florida Highway Patrol identified the pickup driver as 59-year-old Santiago Ruiz Rangel of Mulberry and said the motorcycle rider was a 44-year-old man from Bartow. Troopers said Rangel's blood-alcohol concentration tested at 0.170, more than twice Florida's legal limit, and that he was arrested on a charge of DUI manslaughter and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, according to a news release reported by Tampa Bay 28.
What Florida Law Says About DUI Deaths
Causing a death while driving under the influence is prosecuted under Florida's DUI statute. Florida Statutes §316.193 classifies DUI manslaughter as a felony and sets out mandatory penalties, enhanced terms for particularly high blood-alcohol levels, and license sanctions, as detailed in Florida Statutes §316.193.
What Happens Next In The Case
FHP's investigation remains active, and troopers say their collision report will be forwarded to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office for charging review. Booking records indicate Rangel was being held at the county jail, and no court dates were listed in the initial release. Troopers did not immediately provide a possible motive or additional identifying information about the rider.
