ALACHUA COUNTY, FL — A 19-year-old Orlando driver is facing multiple charges after Florida Highway Patrol troopers say he drove the wrong way on I-75 and crashed into a pickup truck early Monday near State Road 26.
Troopers said the crash happened just before 2:30 a.m. and involved a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta and a 2018 Dodge Ram. No one was hurt, but the collision blocked part of the road after the pickup spun across the State Road 26 off-ramp.
Troopers say a wrong-way alert went out before the crash
According to troopers, reports of a wrong-way driver came in while the Jetta was traveling northbound on I-75. A BOLO, or be on the lookout alert, was issued for the vehicle before the crash was located.
Troopers later found the car after it struck the Dodge Ram near the State Road 26 area in Alachua County. The sequence suggests officers were already searching for the vehicle when the collision occurred.
Dash cam showed the Jetta weaving across lanes
Florida Highway Patrol said the crash was recorded on dash camera from the pickup truck. The video showed the wrong-way driver heading south in the northbound lanes and moving across several lanes of traffic.
The pickup driver was in the center lane and tried to avoid the Jetta, troopers said. Even with that maneuver, the front right of the Volkswagen hit the pickup’s right rear, causing the crash.
Pickup was spun onto the off-ramp and stopped partly in the roadway
After impact, troopers said the Dodge Ram spun across the State Road 26 off-ramp and came to rest in a position that blocked part of the road. The crash scene involved the main interstate lanes as well as the nearby exit area.
No injuries were reported. That detail made the crash serious in terms of traffic disruption, but troopers said it did not result in physical harm to either driver.
Troopers say breath tests showed a high alcohol reading
Troopers identified the driver as Gabriel Alexander Markaj. They said he gave two breath samples after the crash, and the readings were .190 and .176.
Those results led to DUI-related charges, including driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .150 or higher. The charges also include DUI with property damage or personal injury, even though no one was hurt in the crash.
Charges include wrong-way driving and an altered ID allegation
Markaj was also charged with driving on the wrong side of a divided highway. Florida Highway Patrol said the case also includes an allegation involving unauthorized use or possession of an altered driver license or ID card.
The listed charges reflect both the driving conduct on I-75 and what troopers said they found after the stop. WJXT, News 6’s news partner, reported the details provided by Florida Highway Patrol.
I-75 corridor has heavy traffic and fast-moving crashes
The crash happened in a busy stretch of interstate where drivers can move at high speeds and sudden hazards can create dangerous chain reactions. In this case, troopers said the pickup driver had little room to react after spotting a vehicle going the wrong direction.
The incident also closed off part of the State Road 26 off-ramp until the Ram came to a stop. Florida Highway Patrol has not said whether any additional enforcement action or court date has been set in the case.
