Woman killed, 3 hurt in Charlotte County wrong-way crash on I-75

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A wrong-way driver caused a fatal crash on Interstate 75 early Sunday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at 1:13 a.m. at mile marker 150 on northbound I-75 in Charlotte County. According to the press release, a 53-year-old Sarasota man was driving a 2020 Ford F150 southbound in the northbound lanes when he collided with two vehicles traveling in the correct direction.

A 21-year-old Bradenton woman driving a 2012 Honda CRV was pronounced dead at the scene. A 34-year-old Arcadia woman and two passengers in her 2016 Kia Optima, ages 12 and 15, sustained serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital.

A fourth vehicle, a 2023 Tesla Model 3 driven by a 19-year-old Sarasota woman, collided with crash debris and sustained minor damage. The driver was not injured.

The wrong-way driver, identified as Dennis Lee Olson, sustained non-incapacitating injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Upon his release, state troopers arrested Olson and charged him with vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.

Olson was booked into the Charlotte County Jail. The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.