A Florida Department of Transportation Road Ranger was struck and killed Sunday night on Interstate 75 in Pasco County near mile marker 274 while setting up a lane closure, authorities said. The 24-year-old Brandon man died at the scene after being hit by an SUV that investigators say moved between FDOT vehicles. The driver, identified as 40-year-old Darren Christopher Jenkins of Bradenton, was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter after providing a breath sample that measured 0.334, according to investigators.
What troopers say about the collision
As reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the Florida Highway Patrol said the collision happened at about 8:28 p.m. while Road Rangers were assisting at an earlier two-vehicle crash. Troopers said an Acura MDX drove between two marked FDOT vehicles and struck the worker, who was on foot and setting up the closure. FHP released photos from the scene and said the investigation is ongoing.
Arrest and possible penalties
The Bradenton Herald reported that Jenkins provided a breath sample that measured 0.334, more than four times Florida’s legal limit, and was booked into the Pasco County Jail on a DUI manslaughter charge. Under Florida law, DUI manslaughter is a second-degree felony that can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of four years according to state statute. Prosecutors will review the Florida Highway Patrol investigation before deciding on formal filings.
FDOT response and the Road Ranger program
The Florida Department of Transportation said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss and extended condolences to the ranger’s family and colleagues, as reported by Tampa Bay 28. FDOT notes that Road Rangers provide emergency roadside assistance and traffic incident management, and the program has logged more than 6.1 million service assists since 2000, according to the agency. FDOT said responders are vulnerable while working beside high-speed traffic and urged drivers to move over.
What comes next
Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash, and the case remains under review by prosecutors. The death adds to other recent deadly incidents on the I-75 corridor; earlier in the week a fatal crash shut southbound lanes, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times. Anyone with information about the Sunday night collision is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.
