TAMPA, Fla. — A woman is dead after a fiery crash involving two tractor-trailers on the morning of Friday, June 17 along Interstate 75 in Tampa, Florida.
WTVT reports that a tractor-trailer traveling northbound on I-75 near the Selmon Expressway drifted onto the outside shoulder and collided with another tractor-trailer filled with cotton clothing products from Miami that was parked on the side of the road. It is unknown why the tractor-trailer didn’t stay in its lane.
The natural gas tanks on the moving tractor-trailer went airborne upon the impact and fell onto a Buick Enclave that was traveling northbound in the center lane of I-75.
A 49-year-old woman from Ruskin, Florida, in the Buick’s passenger seat was killed.
The gas tanks came to rest in the center of I-75 as the Buick came to a stop along the highway’s shoulder.
The parked tractor-trailer burst into flames upon impact.
The drivers of the tractor-trailers suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Buick and two children who were also passengers also suffered minor injuries.
The northbound lanes of I-75 were closed Friday morning into the afternoon but have since reopened.
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I always try to move over into the left lane when I see a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of an interstate, such as I-75 in Tampa, FL. And the accident that killed a woman down there is a perfect example of why we should all practice this safe-driving protocol. We never know what might pop out from behind a disabled, or parked vehicle on the shoulder of an interstate, so it’s best to be safe than sorry. Wonder why the big truck that hit the parked truck in Florida didn’t practice this safe-driving technique?
It’s a hard thing to do when you’re distracted or a dumbass. As I have often said “you can’t fix stupid”. The folks in the car had no chance to defend themselves against what happened. MY heart and prayers go ut to the family of that lady.