The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone who saw a deadly crash on Interstate 75 earlier this week to come forward.
A 28-year-old Parrish man died February 10 at a local hospital, one day after the wreck near the Hillsborough-Manatee County line. His name has not yet been released.
The collision happened around 4:30 p.m. on February 9. Northbound traffic was moving slowly because of a separate vehicle fire near the Sun City Center exit. Investigators say a tractor-trailer driver tried to get around the backup at milepost 235 by making an illegal U-turn to head south.
RELATED: Tragedy On I-75: Parrish Man Dies Following Illegal U-Turn Crash Near Sun City Center
That’s when a northbound Toyota Corolla hit the big rig. The 28-year-old driver was critically hurt. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but he died the next day.
The truck driver, 45-year-old Julio Dones Rosa of Citrus Springs, wasn’t hurt. Troopers arrested him at the scene. He faces a charge of Reckless Driving Involving Serious Injury and was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail.
Officials haven’t said whether the charge will change after the victim’s death. The investigation continues.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Corporal Lee by calling FHP (347) or emailing MatthewLee@flhsmv.gov.
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