SPRING HILL, Fla. — The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is investigating a wrong-way crash in Spring Hill that sent five people, including a Hernando deputy, to the hospital early Thursday.
Just after 1 a.m. Thursday, a maroon Pontiac GT was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Spring Hill Drive at Omaha Circle. The Pontiac GT collided head-on with a blue Ford Taurus. A Hernando deputy in a marked Ford Patrol car was behind the Taurus and ultimately rear-ended the Pontiac and Ford. A total of five people were injured in the crash and taken to the hospital.
There was one person, 33-year-old Eric Lollis, in the Pontiac GT traveling the wrong-way and three people in the Ford Taurus. The deputy was taken to the hospital by another deputy.
Deputies on the scene said Lollis smelled of alcohol and his vehicle smelled of burnt marijuana. When searching the vehicle, authorities found 8.4 grams of marijuana inside, according to a press release.
Lollis said the marijuana was his when he was interviewed at the hospital. He told deputies he couldn't remember anything from the accident, but that he "learned his lesson," according to the release.
The deputy who interviewed Lollis at the hospital said he was still able to detect a strong odor of alcohol, the release says.
The driver of the Ford was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Her passengers were also treated.
Deputies are investigating why the Pontiac GT was traveling the wrong-way. They say charges are pending.
Eastbound Spring Hill Drive was closed for the investigation.
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