Lakewood Ranch teen charged in tanker crash

A Florida Highway Patrol investigation has resulted in an arrest related to the fatal tanker crash that forced a complete shutdown of I-75 this morning.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident for leaving the scene of a deadly crash, which is a second-degree felony, according to FHP Lt. Greg Bueno. The truck involved in the crash allegedly struck the rear of the teen’s vehicle, before rolling over and bursting into flames.

Robert Drewelus, the 53-year-old tanker driver, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen fled the scene in a Volvo, which he then abandoned at Gateway Lakes apartments on Cattlemen Road with substantial rear-end damage, Bueno said. Authorities tracked him to a home in Lakewood Ranch.

Sarasota County deputies and FHP officers shut down I-75 just north of the intersection with Fruitville Road after 3 a.m., with lanes opening up throughout the morning.