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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
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Accused drunk driver had a BAC 5.5 times the legal limit in head-on crash that killed Lake Placid teen: FHP
The Brief A man accused in a deadly DUI crash that killed a 16-year-old girl had a BAC that was 5.5 times the legal limit. Troopers arrested Thomas Raulerson on May 30, 2025, for the fatal crash that happened on May 22, 2025. He has been charged with DUI manslaughter and two counts of DUI property damage. LORIDA, Fla. - A suspected drunk driver has been arrested for a deadly crash that killed a 16-year-old girl earlier this month in Highlands County. The backstory According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on May 22, 2025, Thomas Raulerson, 44, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of US Highway 98 in a construction zone shortly after 4 p.m. At the same time, troopers say two SUVs were traveling southbound in the southbound lanes. When the first SUV saw Raulerson driving the wrong way, troopers say the driver hit the brakes, steered right, traveled off the roadway and slammed into a construction barrel. READ:Driver in deadly DUI crash that killed cousin to spend more than 60 years in prison According to FHP, the driver of the second SUV, a 16-year-old girl, hit the brakes as the SUV traveling in front of her veered off the road. Troopers say Raulerson collided head-on with the teen's SUV. The 16-year-old died at the scene. Raulerson was taken to HCA Highlands Hospital and then airlifted to Lawnwood Hospital in Ft. Pierce. Dig deeper According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Raulerson's blood alcohol concentration level was .445, which is 5.5 times the legal limit. On May 30, 2025, troopers arrested Raulerson for DUI manslaughter and two counts of DUI property damage. The Source This story was written with information provided by the Florida Highway Patrol. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
DUI driver who killed Lake Placid teen drove 5x the legal limit
HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A man has been charged with DUI manslaughter after a 16-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision, the Florida Highway Patrol said. At around 4 p.m. on May 22, a Ford F350, driven by 44-year-old Thomas Raulerson, was traveling the wrong way on U.S.-98, going north in the southbound lane, in a construction zone. A second vehicle, a Honda Civic, was traveling south on the southbound lane, driving behind an SUV. The driver of the SUV, approaching the vehicle going the wrong direction, braked and steered right, colliding with a construction barrel on the side of the road. The 16-year-old girl driving the Honda Civic braked as the SUV went off the road, and was hit head-on by the Ford F350. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Raulerson's blood alcohol concentration level was .445, which is over five times the legal limit. He was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries before being arrested and charged on May 30. He was charged with two counts of DUI property damage and DUI manslaughter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
