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FHP Accuses Clearwater Man of Wrong-Way Hit-and-Run Crash

Wendel Jamel James | Florida Highway Patrol | Arrests

He sideswiped another car, the Florida Highway Patrol said. A Pinellas sheriff’s deputy turned in front of him, which caused him to stop.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A Clearwater man is accused of drunken driving after a wrong-way, hit-and-run crash on U.S. 41 in Hillsborough County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Wendel Jamel James, 35, of Clearwater, was charged with two counts of DUI with property damage and one count each of reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.

Colleen Switt, 26, of Ruskin, the other driver, suffered minor injuries but was not taken to a hospital.

The crash happened about 10:33 p.m. Friday (June 22) on U.S. 41 near Valroy Road in Hillsborough County. Troopers said a Pinellas County deputy saw James, who was driving a 2018 Toyota Camry, coming from Manatee County while traveling north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 41. The Toyota was traveling at more than 100 miles per hour.

Switt was driving a 2016 Hyundai Accent south in the southbound lanes of U.S. 41. She was entering a left turn lane near Valroy Road when the right side of the Toyota sideswiped the right side of the Hyundai, troopers said.

After the crash, the Hyundai spun and ended up in the grass median while the Toyota continued traveling in the wrong direction until the Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy completed a U-turn into the path of the Toyota, which stopped.

Florida Highway Patrol | Pinellas Sheriff | Wrong-Way Crash | Hit and Run Crash | U.S. 41 Crash | Arrests | Tampabay News

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