PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Troopers arrested a wrong-way driver on DUI charges after crashing head-on into another vehicle on the Howard Frankland Bridge early Thursday morning.
The crash initially closed all four northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland, but troopers have since reopened three of the four lanes.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 25-year-old Andy Cuff Jr. of St. Petersburg, was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge near mile marker 34 in his 2008 Chrysler 300 shortly before 2 a.m. when he crashed nearly head-on with a 2013 Hyundai.
Preliminary reports state Cuff was driving the right way when he made a U-turn near the hump of the bridge crashing shortly after.
Cuff and the driver of the Hyundai, identified as 24-year-old Andrea Rusch of Tampa, were both transported to St. Joseph's Hospital. Cuff suffered minor injuries and Rusch's condition is listed as critical.
Cuff was discharged from the hospital and immediately arrested. He is charged with DUI with serious injury and driving in the wrong direction.
RECOMMENDED: Wrong-way driver killed in multi-vehicle crash on Howard Frankland Bridge
Troopers closed all northbound lanes on the Howard Frankland bridge for several hours.
The inside NB lanes of the HFB are open as of 6:37AM.
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) November 1, 2018
Updated: Multi-vehicle crash in Pinellas on I-275 north at MM 34, all lanes blocked. Last updated at 04:25:47AM. https://t.co/zkcZiVkmDT
— FL511 Tampa Bay (@fl511_tampabay) November 1, 2018
The St. Petersburg Police Department assisted with the Florida Highway Patrol in the investigation.
HOWARD FRANKLAND TRAFFIC ALERT | NB lanes CLOSED because of wrong-way crash. FHP says driver was headed SB in NB lanes. Hit other car nearly head on. Alcohol believed to be a factor. #GMTB #tampatraffic https://t.co/b56JJ8leA7 pic.twitter.com/Q6m8KC7Oww
— Tampa Bay Traffic (@TampaBayTraffic) November 1, 2018
