Man sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for deadly I-75 crash in Sarasota County

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. —

An Ohio man pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 20.5 years in prison for a deadly 2025 DUI manslaughter crash that killed two people on Interstate 75 in Sarasota County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Fred Matthew Donaldson, 48, was driving his Toyota Camry while impaired before he was involved in a crash on northbound I-75 near mile marker 203 on Dec. 14.

Two Pensacola residents were killed in the crash.

The report states that Donaldson was going about 83 mph and approaching a Nissan Pathfinder before he swerved and hit the vehicle. The Nissan was then redirected off the highway onto the grass shoulder and finally hit a tree.

Troopers said toxicology results showed Donaldson's BAC level was 0.180.

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