3 Children Injured In I-75 Crash; Driver Charged With DUI

BRADENTON, FL - Three children were injured in a Manatee County crash Wednesday after the SUV they were riding in was struck from the rear by a truck. Billy Noel Catherwood, 63, of Naples the driver of the truck, left the scene of the crash and was arrested several hours later and charged with DUI, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Catherwood, whose breath sample registered at 0.15, was also charged with leaving the scene of a crash, FHP said.

Catherwood's Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling southbound on I-75 approaching SR-674 at a high rate of speed in the center lane when it struck an SUV from behind. The SUV overturned in the center grass median and two of the children were ejected from the vehicle. Troopers found the truck 13 miles away.

Ashley Sandoval, 6, is in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital. Sahirys Sandoval, 8, is in serious condition at Tampa General Hospital. Both children were thrown from the SUV. Rodner Sandoval is in serious condition at TGH. Jesus Sandoval, 35, the driver of the SUV, had minor injuries. The Sandovals are from Ruskin.

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