He escaped from a semi tractor-trailer that was partly suspended over a bridge spanning the Withlacoochee River, according to the FHP. The vehicle spilled compost across the road, closing northbound I-75 for several hours.

SUMTER COUNTY – A Tampa man was injured Monday (Aug. 27) when the semi he was driving hit the side of a bridge and was partly suspended over the Withlacoochee River, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Jose Llerena-Fuentes, 43, of Tampa, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash happened about 1 p.m. on northbound I-75 at about the 307 mile marker in Sumter County.

Llerena-Fuentes was driving a 2003 Mack semi tractor-trailer belonging to Soil Tech Distributors of Tampa north on I-75 when he lost control of the vehicle. The semi hit the outside concrete barrier wall of the bridge spanning the Withlacoochee River.

Troopers said the tractor-trailer continued partially over the wall and into the river below until it came to rest with the tractor portion suspended from the bridge by the trailer. The compost material that was being hauled spilled in the travel lanes of northbound I-75.

Llerena-Fuentesgot out of the cab and was rescued by a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office airboat team.

Northbound I-75 was closed for several hours after the crash.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Highway Patrol | FHP | I-75 Crash | Tampabay News

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