The man had to tread water until St. Petersburg Fire Rescue helped him out of the bay.

ST. PETERSBURG – Four men were taken to the hospital Tuesday (Dec. 22) for injuries received in a traffic crash on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

One of the men, Leonard Hicks, 34, of Zephyrhills, was issued a citation for having an improper/unsecure load, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash happened about 10 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 22) on the northbound span of the Howard Frankland. FHP troopers say Hicks was driving a 2006 Ford F350 when the trailer he was towing separated from the truck. Hicks stopped the truck in the inside lane and he and his passengers, Steve Carballo, 27, of New Port Richey, and Ismel Hernandez, 41, of Land O Lakes, got out to try to re-attach the trailer.

David Rivera, 24, of Kissimmee, was driving a 2004 Toyota Corolla behind the truck and trailer. FHP troopers say he was unable to see and stop for the truck and hit it. Hernandez saw that Rivera was about to hit the trailer and jumped off the bridge to avoid being hit. He had to tread water until St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue arrived to get him out of the bay.

Rivera was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries. Hernandez, Carballo and Hicks were also taken to Tampa General for minor injuries.

For information about the FHP, go to flhmsv.gov. For information about St Pete fire, go to fire.stpete.org.

St. Petersburg | Howard Frankland | Florida Highway Patrol | St. Pete Fire | TB Reporter

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