Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Semi-truck crashes off I-75 bridge into Alafia River in Florida

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2015, 5:04 PM




A single-unit box truck overturned off the northbound I-75 bridge over the Alafia River and plummeted into the water Wednesday afternoon.

Amazingly, the driver sustained only minor injuries.

The driver, whose identity has not been released, made an improper lane change into a lane occupied by a four-door Toyota car around 1 p.m. The right rear of the truck collided with the left front of the car, and the truck driver lost control of his empty vehicle, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The truck then hit the concrete barrier wall and rolled off the bridge.

According to troopers, the truck driver was able to get out of the cab and make his way to marine pilings, where he was rescued by marine deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He also sustained only minor injuries.


The two outside lanes of northbound I-75 were closed for nearly three hours. All lanes of I-75 have since been re-opened.