From WTSP
Seminole, Florida — The suspect in a wrong-way crash that left three people dead Christmas morning had his bond set at $60,000.
According to reports, Paul Pulkownik, 51, was westbound on Park Boulevard in the eastbound lanes approaching 131st Street North. When he approached the intersection he collided head-on with another car carrying Isabel Martins, Joao Martins and Arminda Martins.
Isabel Martins died at the scene. Joao Martins died an hour later at Bayfront Medical Center. Days later, 82-year-old Arminda C. Martins died. ….MORE
From Tampa Bay Times
Records show the alleged wrong-way driver, Paul Edward Pulkownik, 51, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.319, or nearly four times the level at which Florida law presumes someone is impaired. The test was performed 90 minutes after the crash.
Pulkownik was arrested Monday afternoon at his Largo home and charged with three counts of driving under the influence-manslaughter, three counts of vehicular homicide and one misdemeanor count of DUI with property damage. He also was issued a citation for driving on the wrong side of the road.
Pulkownik was driving a Ford Explorer in the wrong direction on Park Boulevard about 12:30 a.m. Thursday when he crashed into a car occupied by the Martins family of Largo, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Joao Martins, 84, and his daughter-in-law, Isabel Martins, 58, died that day, troopers said. Joao’s wife, Arminda Martins, 82, died Friday at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
The Martinses were on their way home from a traditional Christmas Eve celebration when investigators say they were hit by Pulkownik. Pulkownik had just left a friend’s house where he had consumed two or three beers, he told authorities at Bayfront Heath St. Petersburg. He was treated for minor injuries after the collision.
Before he was transported to the hospital, Pulkownik was asked to produce his driver’s license by a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy. He fumbled through his wallet, according to a search warrant for his truck, and first provided his credit card and then his ID. ….MORE
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