Man arrested after DUI crash kills man, critically injures woman near North Port

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The approximate site of a crash on US-41 and Palm harbor Drive. Credit: Google Maps

A man was arrested on DUI charges after a Tuesday night crash at Warm Mineral Springs that killed one person and critically injured another.

A Ford Transit van driven by Zachary Richards, 33, of North Port, was traveling south in the inside lane of US-41 at a high rate of speed with no headlights on, approaching Palm Harbor Drive around 10:24 p.m. A Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle, driven by a 67-year-old man with a 62-year-old woman as a passenger, both from North Port, was traveling north in the inside westbound turn lane of US-41, approaching Palm Harbor Drive. The motorcycle attempted to turn south onto Palm Harbor Drive and entered the path of the van.

The front of the van collided with the motorcycle, throwing the driver and passenger from the vehicle. A Lexus RX SUV, driven by a 77-year-old man with a 74-year-old woman as passenger, both from Barrington, Illinois, was traveling north on US-41. The front of the SUV then collided with the motorcycle. The motorcycle’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

Richards was arrested at the scene on charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI serious bodily injury and DUI property damage, and was booked into the Sarasota County Jail.

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