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Tampa Man Extradited from Spain to Face Vehicular Homicide Charge

ChristopherPonce|FloridaHighwayPatrol|Arrests

Christopher Ponce was captured last fall in Spain. He was returned to Tampa on Thursday (April 6) to face charges, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

TAMPA – A Tampa man was brought back home Thursday (April 6) to face charges in connection with a wrong-way crash in 2012 that killed a Wesley Chapel man and seriously injured two others.

Christopher Ponce, 26, is charged with one count each of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He is also charged with two counts each of DUI with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

William Brooks Angel, 20, of Wesley Chapel, died at the scene of the crash. Two passengers in his car, Robert Patrick Newberry, then 22, of Lutz, and Jay Davis, then 20, of Wesley Chapel, were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with serious injuries.

The crash happened about 2:49 a.m. July 19, 2012, on northbound I-275 south of I-4. Troopers said Ponce was driving a 2012 Ford Fusion south in the northbound lanes of I-275 when he collided head on with a 2000 Ford Mustang driven by Mr. Angel.

Ponce was arrested July 20, 2012, after he was released from Tampa General Hospital where he had been taken with serious injuries. Before he came to trial, he fled, troopers said.

In 2014, the FHP again asked for the public’s help in locating Ponce. The CNN television show The Hunt with John Walsh featured the search for Ponce on Aug. 3, 2014, troopers said.

Christopher Ponce 2012 | Florida Highway Patrol | Arrests
Christopher Ponce as he appeared in 2012.

Christopher Ponce Captured | Floida Highway Patrol | ArrestsPonce was finally captured by Spanish police last August and extradition was begun.

For information about the Florida Highway Patrol, go to flhsmv.gov.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Highway Patrol | William Angel | DUI | Crime | Arrests | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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