One lane of I-75 south near State Road 56 and the Pasco county line was reopened Thursday evening. The roadway had been closed most of the day due to an early morning crash involving a semi-trailer and a dump truck.
Officials said a second lane was expected to be reopened late Thursday night as crews worked to repair a section of roadway damaged in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a semi-trailer operated by Pat Salmon & Sons of Florida, Inc., of Jacksonville, was going south on I-75 when it hit a crash attenuator, partially jack-knifed and smashed into the center median. A dump truck, operated by R & D Hauling, of Land O' Lakes, was traveling behind the semi, but couldn't stop and rear-ended the truck.
According to the FHP report, both drivers got out before the vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. They were transported to area hospitals for observation. Mark Alan Berrier, 55, of Macclenny, was driving the tractor trailer. He is at University Community Hospital in Tampa.
Manuel Francisco Rodriguez Rivera, 42, of Land O' Lakes, was behind the wheel of the dump truck. He is at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.
Members of the U.S. Postal Service will try to recover mail carried by the semi.
A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson said there was no first class mail on the truck. It was carrying third class mail (magazines and advertisements) from Jacksonville to Tampa. USPS spokesperson said they believe no personal letters, birthday cards or checks were on the truck at the time of the crash.
FHP troopers recommend drivers use southbound Exit 279 (State Road 54) to exit the highway.
Friday, May 24 2013 4:45 PM EDT2013-05-24 20:45:45 GMT
State education commissioner Dr. Tony Bennett addressing students at Starkey elementary
The FCAT results are in and state officials are happy with what they see. Statewide, the math numbers stayed the same, but scores are up in both the writing and reading tests.
The FCAT results are in and state officials are happy with what they see. Statewide, the math numbers stayed the same, but scores are up in both the writing and reading tests.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:57 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:57:07 GMT
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
Friday, May 24 2013 8:44 AM EDT2013-05-24 12:44:14 GMT
Craft breweries from around the country including Tampa's Cigar City Brewing are toasting the troops with a beer aged with a unique ingredient that symbolizes America's pastime - baseball bats.
Craft breweries from around the country including Tampa's Cigar City Brewing are toasting the troops with a beer aged with a unique ingredient that symbolizes America's pastime - baseball bats.
Friday, May 24 2013 3:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:34:55 GMT
The military arm of the Better Business Bureau, BBB Military Line, reminded of possible scams targeting the active and retired military personnel and elderly veterans before the Memorial Day. Karen Nalven,
The military arm of the Better Business Bureau, BBB Military Line, reminded of possible scams targeting the active and retired military personnel and elderly veterans before the Memorial Day. Karen Nalven,
Friday, May 24 2013 12:13 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:13:39 GMT
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:56:22 GMT
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
Friday, May 24 2013 12:13 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:13:39 GMT
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Is there such a thing as a high-tech bikini body? When exercise and a healthy lifestyle still don't yield the results you want there is a newly approved FDA skin tightening device.
Friday, May 24 2013 9:57 AM EDT2013-05-24 13:57:07 GMT
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
A 4-year-old K9 Officer, Ike, with Hernando County Sheriff Office K9 Unit passed away unexpectedly Thursday after an emergency surgery, Sheriff Al Nienhuis told us.
Friday, May 24 2013 3:26 PM EDT2013-05-24 19:26:57 GMT
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez closed on the sale of his Miami Beach home on Friday morning. The baseball icon sold his North Bay Road home for $30-million dollars. The sale is among the
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez closed on the sale of his Miami Beach home on Friday morning. The baseball icon sold his North Bay Road home for $30-million dollars. The sale is among the
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Wednesday, May 22 2013 4:53 PM EDT2013-05-22 20:53:43 GMT
A wealthy Sarasota retiree was tired of air travel options in Sarasota, so he decided to fix the problem the only way he knew how- he's starting 'Sunrise Airlines.'
A wealthy Sarasota retiree was tired of air travel options in Sarasota, so he decided to fix the problem the only way he knew how- he's starting 'Sunrise Airlines.'
