Tampa police said alcohol was involved in the crash. Charges are pending.

TAMPA – A Tampa man was killed this morning (Oct. 21) when his vehicle was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Bamnet Narongchai, 68, of Tampa, died in the crash.

Police said that about 15 minutes after midnight, a witness saw a F-250 pickup truck driving recklessly in the vicinity of S Macdill Ave and W Hawthorne Road. The driver, later identified as Stephen Joseph Paleveda, 27, of Seffner, was driving without headlights on, failed to stop at several red lights and drove the wrong way down one way streets.

The witness lost sight of the pickup near W Cleveland Street. Moments later, Paleveda entered the westbound lanes of the Selmon Expressway traveling east. Police said Paleveda’s truck then hit Mr. Narongchai’s vehicle head on, killing Mr. Narongchai.

Paleveda fled the scene on foot and was found a short distance away from the crash scene.

Paleveda was taken to a hospital to be medically cleared.

Police said alcohol was a factor in the crash and charges are pending.

Tampa Police | Bamnet Narongchai | Selmon Crash | Drunk Driving | Wrong-Way Crash | Head-On Crash | Tampabay News

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