Northbound traffic on I-75 was proceeding slowly due to an unrelated vehicle fire near the Sun City Center exit. At the 235 Milepost, near the Hillsborough/Manatee County line, a tractor-trailer initiated an illegal U-Turn to travel southbound on I-75.
The tractor-trailer entered the path of and was struck by a Toyota Corolla, driven by a 28-year-old Parrish man. The driver of the sedan suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, 45-year-old Julio Dones Rosa of Citrus Springs, was not injured during the incident; however, he was arrested by FHP Troopers for Reckless Driving Involving Serious Injury and delivered to the Hillsborough County Jail.
Following the collision on February 10, and after being transported to an area hospital, Driver 2 later expired from injuries suffered during the crash.
What about “OFFICIAL USE ONLY” confuses these drivers?