Heavy Rains Impact Hillsborough County Communities

PLANT CITY, FL — It doesn't take a hurricane or even a tropical storm for the weather to negatively impact Hillsborough County residents.

On Monday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office responded to two calls about damage caused by the heavy rains over the weekend.

In one case, a water-logged tree branch fell at 2405 Knights-Griffin Road in Plant City and landed on a Publix semi-tractor trailer truck, cutting the trailer in half and squashing the truck's contents of food and other items.

Heavy rains also caused an Apollo Beach road to wash out. A large hole opened up in the road at 6651 Dickman Road Monday. The road is now closed from Apollo Beach Road to the Manatee Viewing Center.

Meanwhile, in Town N' Country on Sunday, deputies were called out to a crash caused when roads turned slick following an afternoon thunderstorm. The crash involving three vehicles occurred around noon at the intersection of West Waters Avenue and Pinehurst Drive.

The sheriff's office is reminding drivers that even a brief rain shower can result in slick roads. Drivers should use caution on wet roads and make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles.