By Cindy Schroeder
Enquirer staff writer

COVINGTON - Two people were hospitalized Monday after a robbery suspect drove the wrong way on southbound Interstate 75 and crashed into two cars on the Brent Spence Bridge, police said.

The southbound lanes of the bridge were closed for several hours.

William E. Rehmet, 36, of Independence, who was listed in stable condition Monday at University Hospital, faces six felony charges in two states.

A Cincinnati police report said Rehmet was charged with aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault and failure to comply with a police officer's signal.

Covington police charged Rehmet with three felonies: first-degree robbery, first-degree fleeing a police officer and first-degree wanton endangerment.

David A. Amarante, 45, of Covington, the driver of one of the southbound cars, was in serious condition at University Hospital after Rehmet struck his car head-on, then spun off and struck another car, Cincinnati police said. The second driver, a North Royalton, Ohio, man, was not injured.

"We're very lucky somebody didn't get killed," said Lt. Col. Mike Kraft, Covington police spokesman.

Covington police believe Rehmet robbed a BP gas station at 610 W. Fourth St. about 1:30 a.m. Monday. The robber told the clerk he had a gun and demanded money, Kraft said.

"As (he) was pulling out, one of our officers was pulling up," Kraft said. "He passed the police officer going the wrong way on Fourth Street."

The suspect fled south on Philadelphia Street, went the wrong way on Fifth Street, then drove north onto the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 onto the Brent Spence Bridge, Kraft said.

The crash occurred at 1:36 a.m. on the Cincinnati approach to the bridge, Cincinnati Police said.

Rehmet was taken to University Hospital after authorities freed him from his car, Cincinnati Police said. He was arrested at the hospital.

He faces up to 10 years behind bars on robbery charges alone, Kraft said.

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E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com