Driver arrested for DUI in wrong-way crash on I-4, troopers say

Wrong-way DUI driver causes crash on I-4: FHP

A Florida driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 4 near Tampa early Friday morning has been arrested, authorities said. Arda Sengun, 22, of Sarasota, was taken into custody on a charge of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Update (Jan. 2025): The case against Arda Sengun has been adjudicated through the court system. Mr. Sengun entered a plea agreement with prosecutors, which resulted in some initial charges being dismissed or reduced to lesser charges, according to online court records. As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Sengun agreed to probation, community service, continuing education, a year suspension of his license, among other requirements.

Original story

A Florida driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 4 near Tampa early Friday morning has been arrested, authorities said.

Arda Sengun, 22, of Sarasota, was taken into custody on a charge of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 3:40 a.m., the Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center received a call regarding a wrong-way driver traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-4 at mile marker 10 in Seffner. Five minutes later the wrong-way driver crashed into a Mercedes car driving westbound at mile marker 12.

Photo via DOT

A pickup truck traveling westbound slammed on its brakes to avoid the collision and was struck from behind by a flat-bed truck.

 As a result, the flat-bed truck overturned, trapping its driver and the pickup truck collided with a semi that was parked along the shoulder, FHP said. 

The wrong way driver was arrested, and the three other drivers were rushed to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. 

All westbound lanes in the area are currently closed.

Woman drove wrong way on I-4: FHP

As people were driving along Interstate 4 near downtown Orlando on Monday night, another motorist managed to drive at least 8 miles in the wrong direction before clipping a Florida trooper's patrol vehicle.

Earlier this week, troopers caught another driver traveling the wrong way on I-4. It happened Monday night near downtown Orlando.

To stop the driver from potentially hitting other vehicles, a trooper risked their own life by intentionally crashing into the wrong-way driver's car.

Both the trooper and the driver – identified as a 48-year-old Arizona woman – suffered minor injuries. 

Troopers said the woman traveled at least eight miles in the wrong direction within 15 minutes.