Cleaswater, FL : Drunken driver speeding down rain-slicked U.S. 19 in the Countryside area struck a vehicle which burst into flames on Saturday night September 27th 2014

A drunken driver speeding down rain-slicked U.S. 19 in the Countryside area struck a vehicle which burst into flames Saturday night, shutting down a mile-and-a-half stretch of the road for several hours, authorities said. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say the crash happened about 9:20 p.m. Officials say Robert Nelligan, 36, of Tampa was speeding north on U.S. 19 when the southbound Temitope Babalola, 35, of St. Petersburg made a U-turn in front of him near Estancia Boulevard. Nelligan's 2013 Mercedes-Benz struck Babalola's 1994 Honda, which spun out, crossed the center median and burst into flames in the southbound lanes. Nelligan and his passenger, 36-year-old John King of Merritt Island, suffered minor injuries, authorities said. Babalola also had minor injuries and was taken to Bayfront Hospital. More than two dozen emergency units responded. Photos and video provided by motorists showed crews working to extinguish Babalola's car, which troopers said was "eventually consumed by fire." Troopers ticketed Nelligan for careless driving and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail on suspicion of DUI. Authorities said he refused to provide them with a breath sample. The crash — which was initially reported to have involved four vehicles — blocked all lanes of U.S. 19 between Republic Drive and Curlew Road until just after midnight, when all but a left turn was reopened. All lanes were clear by about 1 a.m., a spokesman said. Source : FHP: Intoxicated driver, speeding behind fiery Clearwater crash