Woman accused of DUI manslaughter, causing wrong-way crash on I-75

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a woman accused of DUI, driving the wrong way on Interstate 75 southbound, which caused a fatal three-vehicle crash.

According to troopers, Genise Gardenia Taylor, 24, was driving northbound on the southbound lanes of I-75 on Immokalee Road.

At the same time, two vehicles were driving southbound on I-75, in the correct direction, also on Immokalee Road.

Troopers report that Taylor collided with the two vehicles, causing critical injuries to a 96-year-old Naples man and non-incapacitating injuries to a 57-year-old man from New Hampshire.

Both men were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, where the 96-year-old succumbed to his injuries.

Taylor sustained minor injuries from the crash and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Once the hospital cleared her, troopers arrested and charged her with DUI manslaughter.

She remains in Collier County Jail.

A close friend of Taylor said, "She is a loving single mom trying to make ends meet for her and her daughter."

The woman had been friends with Taylor since she was 16 and said the accident was a mistake and out of character for Taylor. 

A Port Charlotte woman was shocked to hear about the death of the 96 year old man and that the driver was a single mother.

"I worry about that child," said Kathy Kupfer. "I worry about her family now dealing with it, because it's not going to be easy."

A single mother that lives near I-75 thought the traffic was leftover from St. Patrick's day travel.

"I just think it's horrible in general. I'm a single mom as well, but I'm not at that age. I'm older," said Kara Sullivan. "I have more... I guess, wisdom than to, if she got a DUI, drink and drive with knowing that I have a child to care for."

Kupfer said she felt for both families involved.

"It's easy for us always to judge what happens to other people," said Kupfer. "The UI makes it difficult, but we don't want to jump to conclusions about what anybody is going through or what happened previous to that."

One driver told WINK News the traffic from the crash was the worst he had ever seen in the area. 

"It's extremely backed up. Like it's, it's wild. Like maybe we move every like five minutes. Like it, it's that bad," said Noah. "Typically, like during lunchtime, it's always gonna be bad on the highway right here, but I mean this, this is like times two."

Noah said the traffic added at least an hour and half on his trip to Miami.

Viewer footage submitted anonymously to WINK News shows Taylor's vehicle driving on the wrong side of I-75 moments before the fatal crash occurred. 

As of 12 p.m. on Wednesday, both north and southbound lanes have reopened. 

Footage provided by WINK News viewer Carlos Flores shows the severity of the crash.