New York man charged in I-75 crash that killed adult, 2 kids in Charlotte County, marijuana found

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—A New York man has been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter after a fatal crash on Interstate 75 killed three people, including two young children.

Ryan Richard Mowdy, 28, of Laurel, New York, faces three counts of DUI manslaughter, three counts of vehicular homicide, evidence destruction, and marijuana possession following the March 27 crash at Mile Marker 153.

He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail after an exhaustive criminal investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit.

Investigators determined Mowdy was under the influence of marijuana when he drove a 2014 Wrangler Jeep across the Interstate 75 grass median and into the direct path of a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The collision killed one adult and two young children.

After the crash, Mowdy removed a small black container from the Jeep and threw it over a fence into a wooded area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers later recovered the container and found it contained marijuana.

The crash remains under investigation.