A Tampa man dies after his car is crushed by a tractor-trailer

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, a motorist who lost control of her vehicle on Interstate 75 ended up causing a chain-reaction crash. It resulted in a tractor-trailer falling on top of a Tampa-area man’s vehicle around 4 p.m. that day. He was killed when that happened.

A spokesperson with the Florida Highway Patrol reports that the driver of a Toyota Sequoia had just taken I-75’s northbound ramp when she lost control of her vehicle. She ultimately ended up crossing several lanes of traffic before crashing into an oncoming tractor-trailer.

The impact of that crash caused the semi to collide with an interior barrier wall along the portion of I-75 that crosses East Fowler Avenue. It’s then that the truck’s trailer became separated from its cab. Within moments, it had fallen down on top of a sedan below.

That vehicle that was crushed was being driven by a male motorist at the time. He died instantly once the tomato truck fell on him. Police have yet to identify the decedent.

When the truck crashed down onto Fowler, it also struck a Hyundai Santa Fe. Although the driver and his passenger reportedly only suffered minor injuries in the crash, they were transported to Tampa General Hospital for further evaluation. An additional driver whose car was struck by the semi’s axle and the tractor-trailer driver both refused treatment at the scene of the crash.

The 40-year-old woman responsible for causing the crash and her passenger were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital for observation after suffering nonlife-threatening injuries. The spokesperson notes that they don’t believe alcohol played a role in the crash. It’s unclear if any charges will be filed against the woman believed to have lost control of her vehicle.

When a motorist dies in a car crash due to another party’s negligence, their loved ones will generally be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to recover expenses such as funeral costs and other losses. Your ability to file a lawsuit is often time-restricted. You’ll want to consult with a Tampa car accident attorney right away to ensure that the statute of limitations is preserved in your case.