Wrong-way driver on U.S. 19 in Pasco faces DUI charge

A wrong-way driver on U.S. 19 in Hudson collided with another vehicle Sunday night, then continued into Hernando County, where he was arrested on charges of DUI and leaving the scene, troopers said.

Gregory Michael Henry, 60, of Port Richey, was driving a 1999 Ford Escort north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 19, south of Aripeka Road, at 7:25 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A 2002 Dodge van, driven by Loraine Lachance, 59, of San Antonio, was heading south in the southbound lanes and swerved right but could not avoid hitting the Escort, troopers said.

Lachance, who sustained minor injuries, pulled over, but the Escort continued north in the southbound lane, troopers said.

A witness followed the Escort from the northbound lanes in an attempt to obtain a license plate number and observed the Escort go over the center grass median into the northbound lanes, troopers said. The witness lost sight of the Escort south of Spring Hill Drive.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office came in contact with Henry on U.S. 19 south of State Road 50, about 10 miles north of the collision, authorities said.

Troopers then made contact with Henry, who stated he was in a collision after leaving Skinny’s Bar & Grill, 13228 U.S. 19, Hudson, and fled the scene, the highway patrol said.

Henry was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a crash, driving in a wrong direction, driving without insurance and driving without registration.

Henry reported minor injuries from the incident, troopers said.