St. Petersburg, Florida – A tragic wrong-way crash on the Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg has claimed the lives of three people. The incident occurred on December 6 when a stolen vehicle collided head-on with an Uber driver’s car. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Leosvany Roman, allegedly led law enforcement on a harrowing chase before the fatal collision.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HSCO) were both involved in the incident. HSCO deputies had initially attempted to stop a stolen Ford Mustang, which Roman was driving. Troopers state that the Mustang was driving at speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour. Moments later, he crashed into two HCSO vehicles and swiftly fled from the scene, as reported by the sheriff’s office.
During the subsequent chase, Roman collided with an FHP trooper’s vehicle before turning around and intentionally ramming into it a second time. He then accelerated, ultimately crashing head-on into a Dodge Caravan. Tragically, both the Caravan driver and one of his three passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
HCSO Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed outrage, stating, “This criminal had no regard for human life. Our deputies, facing danger, had to jump out of the way of a man they feared would run them over to get away.” Chronister vowed that the charges against Roman, which include felony murder and vehicular homicide, will lead to justice.
Authorities have identified the Caravan driver as a 33-year-old man from Bradenton, Florida, while the deceased passenger at the scene was a 52-year-old man from Ohio.
FHP stated that the driver was driving for Uber at the time. However, Uber, in a statement to Fox News Digital, has denied any connection between the crash and their platform, asserting that they have no record of the trip. Meanwhile, additional casualties include a 24-year-old passenger from Ohio who suffered serious injuries and a 27-year-old FHP trooper with minor injuries. Roman also suffered serious injuries as well.
Roman is now facing a slew of serious charges, including aggravated fleeing and eluding involving death, driving with a suspended license involving death, and battery on a law enforcement officer. The investigation into this tragic wrong-way crash continues as authorities work to bring closure to the families of those affected.