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Pasco County, FL (July 14, 2026) – A 24-year-old road ranger with the Florida Department of Transportation was killed on Sunday night, July 13, after being struck by a suspected drunk driver on I-75 southbound near I-275 South in Pasco County. The crash happened just before 8:30 p.m.
FDOT road rangers had responded to assist with a prior two-vehicle crash on the interstate. While the young Brandon man was out of his vehicle attempting to set a lane closure, a driver in an Acura MDX drove between two FDOT vehicles and struck him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver was identified as 40-year-old Darren Jenkins. A breath sample showed an alcohol concentration of 0.334, more than four times the legal limit. Jenkins was arrested, charged with DUI manslaughter, and taken to Pasco County Jail.
The accident remains under active investigation. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the road ranger who lost his life.
What Happens When a Worker Is Struck and Killed in a Highway Work Zone?
Road rangers and other highway workers who respond to crashes or set up lane closures on active interstates face serious risk from passing traffic, particularly when drivers are impaired or distracted. Workers on foot near live lanes depend on vehicle visibility, flashing lights, and traffic control devices to alert approaching drivers to slow down and move over. When a driver fails to respond to those warnings, the consequences for anyone outside a vehicle can be fatal.
Florida’s Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes away from stopped emergency, law enforcement, and road service vehicles displaying lights on a highway. Failure to move over when safe to do so is a traffic violation, and when that failure results in injury or death, it can support more serious criminal charges alongside any DUI-related counts. DUI manslaughter in Florida is a felony offense carrying significant prison time upon conviction.
A blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.334 is considered extremely high: more than four times the legal limit of 0.08 in Florida. At that level, impairment affects virtually every aspect of driving ability, including lane tracking, reaction time, and hazard recognition. Investigators in DUI manslaughter cases document the alcohol concentration as a central piece of evidence in establishing the driver’s level of impairment at the time of the crash.
