OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. – A head-on crash on State Road 85 south of Crestview led to an altercation and arrest for DUI with serious injury, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has announced.
According to the FHP, on February 7, 2023, at approximately 5:14 p.m., the FHP responded to the scene of a two-vehicle head-on collision near the area of State Road 85 and Antioch Road. Upon arriving on the scene, troopers said they were informed a driver attempted to flee the scene after the crash occurred. However, he was reportedly stopped by an off-duty Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
The FHP said the suspect driver had a brief physical altercation with the deputy.
Troopers conducted a collision investigation and determined that vehicle 1 was traveling southbound on State Road 85, just south of Antioch Road. Vehicle 1 reportedly exited the roadway to the left, entered the median, crossed the median, and entered the northbound lanes of State Road 85, traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.
Vehicle 1 reportedly then collided head-on with vehicle 2.
According to the FHP, Darren Rosewas, 18, was identified as the driver of Vehicle 1. A 30-year-old man was identified as the driver of Vehicle 2.
As the crash investigation was being conducted, Rosewas allegedly became physically and verbally defiant with troopers on scene and was restrained further, the FHP said.
During an inventory of Vehicle 1, the FHP reported finding multiple cartridges of synthetic THC vape along with a bottle of prescription medications not belonging to Rosewas.
After the conclusion of the crash investigation, a DUI investigation was conducted by troopers on Rosewas, where he was determined to be an impaired driver, the FHP said.
Rosewas was placed under arrest by troopers and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.
State Road 85 experienced traffic issues for approximately 1.5 hours while the crash scene was being investigated, the FHP said.
According to the FHP, Rosewas’ charges include resisting an officer with violence, a third-degree felony, DUI with serious injury, a third-degree felony, and possession of a synthetic cannabinoid, a third-degree felony.
