The other driver is in critical condition, the Florida Highway Patrol says.

MANATEE COUNTY –  A New Port Richey woman who was driving the wrong way on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge died this morning (Dec. 30) when she crashed head on into another vehicle, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Shontel Nicole Chase, 29, of New Port Richey, died at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt, troopers said. It is unclear if she had been drinking or was otherwise impaired.

The other driver, Jon Allen Mitchell, 55, of Palmetto, was taken to Blake Medical Center in critical condition.

The crash, which closed the southbound Sunshine Skyway for hours, happened about 3:40 a.m. Troopers said Ms. Chase was driving a 2005 Ford Focus northbound in the southbound lanes of the Skyway approaching the 2000 GMC Sierra driven by Mitchell head on. Mitchell tried to avoid the crash by swerving to the right. Ms. Johnson steered the Focus to the left in an evasive move, troopers said.

The two vehicles hit head on, causing both to spin. The Sierra came to a stop facing west. The Focus came to rest facing north with its back partially resting on the bridge retaining wall, troopers said.

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

Florida Highway Patrol | Wrong-Way Driver | Head-On Crash | Shontel Nicole Chase | Sunshine Skyway | TB Reporter

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