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FHP: Drunk driver kills 65-year-old New Port Richey woman in crash Thursday night in Tarpon Springs

Dustin Rhoades arrested for DUI Manslaughter
Posted at 8:42 AM, Feb 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-17 08:44:38-05

An alleged drunk driver is facing manslaughter charges for causing a crash on Thursday night that killed a 65-year-old New Port Richey woman.

The Florida Highway Patrol report the crash occurred around 11:29 p.m. at the intersection of East Lake and Keystone Roads in Tarpon Springs.

Troopers say Denise Diometre was driving her 2012 Hyundai Elantra northbound in the inside lane of East Lake Road when she was overtaken in the intersection by a 2008 Ford Explorer driven by 29-year-old Dustin Rhoades of Clearwater.

Authorities say the Explorer crashed into the back of the Elantra, causing both cars to leave the roadway.

Paramedics transported Diometre to an area hospital where she later died from the injuries she sustained in the crash.

Troopers conducted a sobriety breath test on Rhoades. His blood alcohol content reading was 0.16, which is double the legal intoxication limit for driving in Florida.

Rhoades was arrested, charged with DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide, and booked into the Pinellas County Jail.