Fiery 5-Vehicle Crash Closes I-75, Fowler Avenue

TEMPLE TERRACE, FL – A fiery crash on Interstate 75 left one person dead and all lanes of the highway closed just as rush hour began on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident involved six vehicles and sent five people to the hospital.

Troopers say it began when a Toyota Sequoia entered the northbound entrance ramp to I-75 at 4:08 p.m.

The SUV lost control, rotating across the northbound lanes into the path of a northbound tractor-trailer truck hauling tomatoes.

The truck and tractor-trailer came apart and the truck struck the barrier wall along the Fowler Avenue overpass and then continued over the wall, falling on top of a vehicle traveling underneath. The impact killed the driver of the vehicle and caused both the truck and vehicle to burst into flames.

The trailer continued along the barrier wall before following the truck down onto Fowler Avenue and colliding with a Hyundai Santa Fe.

An axle from the trailer fell off and struck a fifth vehicle in the southbound lanes of I-75.

The trailer then stopped across all lanes of Fowler Avenue, spilling its load of tomatoes across the highway.

The crash initially closed all lanes of I-75 and Fowler Avenue until 7:30 p.m. when the two outside lanes of southbound I-75 reopened followed by the northbound lanes at 8:45 p.m.

Fowler Avenue is expected to remain closed throughout the night.

The name of the male driver who was killed is not being released until next of kin is notified.

The occupants of the other vehicles were not seriously injured.

Jennifer Louise Boynton, 40 of Belleview was the driver of the Toyota Sequoia and Scott Elling, 50, of Belleview was a passenger. They were both taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.

Angel Aldana Catalan, 63, of Port St. Lucie was the driver of the tractor-trailer truck. He was treated for minor injuries.

Frank L. Harold, 62, of Bradenton was the driver of the Hyundai Santa Fe. He and his passenger, Jennine M. Harold, 63, of Bradenton were taken to Tampa General Hospital

Patricia P. Folsom, 69, of Tampa was the driving of a Toyota SUV that was struck by the axle. She was unharmed.

Images via FHP