FHP troopers say he was driving under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Ruskin woman died this morning (Nov. 15) when her van hit a tree after it had been hit by a car driven by a man who was under the influence of drugs, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Maria DeLourdes Perez, 57, of Ruskin, died at Blake Memorial Hospital where she was taken after the crash.

Jeremy Guerrero, 31, of Ruskin, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries but was not taken to a hospital. Guerrero was arrested and charged with one count each of DUI Manslaughter (Drugs-Meth) and Driving While License Suspended/Revoked Involving a Death.

The crash happened about 5:48 a.m. on southbound I-75 south of County Road 672 in Hillsborough County.

Troopers said Guerrero was driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla in the center lane. He was overtaking a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle and began to “aggressively brake.” In the process, lost control of his car and traveled across the roadway.

As the Toyota traveled across the road, it hit the left side of the 2009 Dodge van that Ms. Perez was driving. Both vehicles ran off the road and onto the west shoulder.

Once on the shoulder, the Toyota overturned and hit several trees, troopers said. The van collided head-on with another tree.

Photos of crash scene courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Highway Patrol | Maria DeLourdes Perez | I-75 Crash | Crime | DUI | Arrests | Tampabay News | News Tampa

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