His passenger became trapped in the overturned pickup truck, FHP troopers said. The crash closed northbound I-75 for almost five hours.

PASCO COUNTY – A Brooksville man died this morning (April 28) when he was hit by an oncoming car after he got out of his overturned pickup truck to help free his passenger, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Quinten Lance Perez, 23, of Brooksville, died at the scene. His passenger, Weston Sam Reynolds, 21, of Masaryktown, was airlifted to the Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point in serious condition. It is unclear if Reynolds was wearing a seat belt, troopers said. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

The driver and passenger in the other vehicle, both from Gainesville, GA, suffered minor injuries but were not taken to a hospital.

The crash happened about 2:15 a.m. on I-75 south of Blanton Road at about mile marker 291.5 in Pasco County.

Troopers said Mr. Perez was driving a 2005 Toyota Tacoma north on I-75 when he lost control of the pickup truck. The pickup traveled to the outside shoulder. Mr. Perez over-corrected and the truck crossed all northbound lanes of traffic until it collided with the center median guardrail The truck overturned and came to rest across the inside and center lanes of the roadway.

As a result of the crash, Reynolds became trapped in the pickup. Mr. Perez got out of the truck to help free Reynolds.

In the meantime, troopers said, a 2014 Chverolet Sonic driven by one of the men from Gainesville, had not seen the initial crash and collided first with the truck, then with Mr. Perez.

The crash closed all northbound lanes of I-75 until about 7 a.m. Traffic was diverted to State Road 52 while the interstate was closed.

No charges are pending.

Florida Highway Patrol | Quinten Lance Perez | I-75 Crash | Tampabay News

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