The fuel tank of the semi ruptured during the crash, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

PASCO COUNTY – A tractor-trailer driver was critically injured Friday (June 9) when his truck burst into flames during a crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Eddy Quintana Perez, 69, of Cape Coral, was taken to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition. He was working for Eddy’s Trucking, based in Cape Coral. Pasco County Fire Rescue said he received burns over 40 percent of his body and was airlifted to a local trauma center. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no other injuries were reported.

The crash happened about 5:27 p.m. on northbound I-75 at the 284.5 mile marker in Pasco County. Troopers said the 2000 International tractor-trailer, which was towing a flatbed with cargo loaders, was in the outside lane when it left the roadway and traveled onto the outside paved shoulder. The driver over-corrected, troopers said, causing the tractor-trailer to travel back across the northbound traffic lanes and collide with a temporary construction guard rail.

The impact ruptured the fuel tank, causing the tractor-trailer to burst into flames.

After the impact, the tractor-trailer traveled 300 feet and came to rest in the outside lane facing northwest.

The crash tied up traffic for hours. The Florida Department of Transportation announced at 3:30 a.m. today (June 10) that one lane has been reopened between County Road 54 (Exit 279) and State Road 52 (Exit 285) after cleanup and police investigation of the crash. All lanes were reopened at 6:40 a.m.

For information about the Florida Highway Patrol, go to flhsmv.gov.

Main photo, taken from A video Made from A car that was following the tractor-trailer, is courtesy of Pasco County Fire Rescue. Other photos are courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Highway Patrol | I-75 Crash | Traffic Crash | Traffic Accident | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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