A Clearwater woman now faces three criminal charges, including DUI, after a crash on the Courtney Campbell Causeway on Thursday morning that left a man in critical condition.
Lina Marie Paige, 26, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail after she was medically cleared at Clearwater Emergency Room after the crash that occurred in the westbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway around 3:15 a.m. on Thursday.
Police say Paige was driving her 2010 Mercedes-Benz when she slammed into the rear of a work van also traveling west on the Causeway. The collision caused the van to veer out of control and slam into a guardrail and flip before coming to rest upright.
The driver of the van, Gregory Palmer, 52, of Clearwater was taken to Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg where he remains in critical condition.
Paige has been charged with driving under the influence involving serious bodily injury, battery on a law enforcement officer and driving with a license suspended or revoked. She is being held on $10,250 bond. In June of 2016, Paige was also arrested for DUI and possession of cocaine after she reportedly crashed into a house in Tampa.
Westbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway into Clearwater were closed for 5 hours as FHP investigated the crash.
Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire and Rescue responded to the crash at approximately 3:15 a.m.
All westbound traffic were diverted by Tampa Police at the boat ramp. Drivers were advised to use the Howard Frankland or Hillsborough Avenue as alternate routes as FHP investigated the crash.
TRAFFIC MAPS, ALTERNATE ROUTES
Headed to #Clearwater from #Tampa this morning? Don't take the CCC -- use Howard Frankland or Hillsborough Avenue. Crash probe continues.
TRAFFIC ALERT ?? WB Courtney Campbell Causeway is currently SHUT DOWN due to crash. Traffic map, updates >> https://t.co/GC2jC7wCgI pic.twitter.com/ELz81vNPB8
— ABC Action News (@abcactionnews) August 17, 2017
MORE: CCC if you need a high clearance, DO NOT attempt the service road. You will get stuck. Use Howard Frankland or Tampa Rd.
— LindsayLogue (@LindsayLogueTV) August 17, 2017
NOW: CCC- all WB lanes closed. Drivers skirting by on service road. Expect delays! Do not travel if you need a high clearance. pic.twitter.com/9zydGfhOoP
— LindsayLogue (@LindsayLogueTV) August 17, 2017
MORE @TampaBayTraffic - Bridge not "shut down" on Tampa side. Drivers being detoured more than 1/2 way across onto service road.
— LindsayLogue (@LindsayLogueTV) August 17, 2017
NOW: Drivers into Clearwater crawling on service road of Courtney Campbell. WB lanes closed. Delays maybe 10-15 min right now. pic.twitter.com/EdgUM56z1y
— LindsayLogue (@LindsayLogueTV) August 17, 2017
It is a snail's pace on the westbound access road. Continue to avoid taking the Courtney Campbell. Use Howard Frankland or Hillsborough Ave. pic.twitter.com/Cr2klnJKyL
— @myclearwaterPD (@myclearwaterPD) August 17, 2017
This is one of the cars involved in the accident on the Courtney Campbell. pic.twitter.com/56jjqqIsby
— @myclearwaterPD (@myclearwaterPD) August 17, 2017
