One seriously injured, six others transported to hospital after multi-vehicle crash on I-75

Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Seven people were transported to the hospital, including a woman with serious injuries and an infant, following a multi-vehicle accident yesterday on I-75.

At about 3:25 p.m., a pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old Orlando man was traveling southbound in the center lane of I-75 near mile marker 396, and an SUV pulling a car hauler trailer, driven by a 27-year-old man from Kenner, LA, was also traveling southbound directly in front of the pickup truck.

A semi driven by a 37-year-old Miami man was parked (disabled) in the southbound outside emergency lane, and a 35-year-old Lake Butler man was making repairs on the semi.

When the driver of the pickup truck tried to pass the SUV in the outside lane, the left side of the pickup truck hit the right side of the car hauler trailer that was being pulled by the SUV. That caused the SUV to move toward the outside lane, where it hit the semi’s trailer (picture below); the pickup truck rear-ended the semi’s trailer. The impact caused the semi to move forward and hit the mechanic who was making repairs.

Crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue and High Springs Fire Rescue responded to the crash; a Heavy Rescue unit was required to free the occupants from the tangled vehicles, and four ambulances were required to transport seven people to area hospitals. [Editor’s note: Florida Highway Patrol’s release lists seven people with injuries, but Alachua County Fire Rescue states that eight people were transported to the hospital.]

The driver of the pickup truck and his 40-year-old male passenger from Orlando suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital. Both were wearing seatbelts.

The driver of the SUV and his 21-year-old and one-year-old female passengers from Kenner, LA, suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital. A 40-year-old female passenger in the SUV suffered serious injuries. All were wearing seatbelts or secured in a child restraint.

The driver of the semi and his 24-year-old female passenger from Miami were uninjured. They were not wearing seatbelts.

The mechanic suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. He was not in a vehicle when he was struck.

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