HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A 28-year-old man from Parrish has died from injuries sustained in a collision involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 75. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed Wednesday that the victim, whose name has not been released, passed away at a local hospital after the crash that occurred near the Hillsborough-Manatee County line.
Troopers say on Monday, around 4:30 PM, the northbound traffic on the interstate was crawling due to a separate vehicle fire located further north near the Sun City Center exit. According to investigators, the driver of a tractor-trailer attempted to bypass the congestion at the 235-milepost by performing an illegal U-turn to head back south.
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During the maneuver, the heavy truck pulled directly into the path of a northbound Toyota Corolla. The sedan struck the tractor-trailer, leaving the 28-year-old driver with critical injuries. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby medical facility, but he ultimately succumbed to his wounds.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, identified by authorities as 45-year-old Julio Dones Rosa of Citrus Springs, did not report any injuries at the scene. FHP troopers arrested Rosa following the initial investigation.
He was charged with Reckless Driving Involving Serious Injury and was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. Following the news of the victim’s death, officials have not yet specified if the charges against Rosa will be upgraded.
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