MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – A morning commute near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge took a chaotic turn Wednesday when a hit-and-run collision escalated into an armed standoff between two drivers. Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested both men involved after one allegedly pulled a firearm and the other was found to be driving under the influence.
The incident began around 8:25 AM when authorities received reports of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving recklessly southbound on Interstate 275.
According to investigators, the Silverado sideswiped a white Dodge Ram near the South rest area in Manatee County. Following the impact, both drivers pulled over and stepped out of their vehicles on the side of the highway.
The situation turned tense when the driver of the Dodge Ram, identified as 55-year-old Paul Shannon, produced a firearm. Troopers say Shannon pointed the weapon at the other driver and ordered him to get on the ground.
Upon arrival, state troopers took both men into custody. Shannon was booked into the Manatee County Jail on a charge of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
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The driver of the Silverado, 50-year-old Gary Thompson, was also arrested and charged with DUI and Refusal to Submit to a Urine Test. Both men remain in custody at the Manatee County Jail.
In the wake of the roadside conflict, the Florida Highway Patrol is reminding the public of safety protocols for similar encounters.
Officials urge anyone who witnesses reckless driving, impaired motorists, or road rage incidents to call 911 or *FHP and to prioritize creating distance from the situation to stay safe.
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