The crash closed the northbound lanes of I-75 for five hours.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – A tire blowout caused a traffic crash Tuesday (Nov. 8) that killed two men and tied up traffic for hours on I-75 at Fletcher Avenue, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Elmar Alberto Villacinda Ramirez, 21, of Bradenton, died at the scene. A 36-year-old man from Miami also died in the crash. The FHP is withholding his name until his next of kin are notified. Both were passengers in a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by Bayron O. Bamaca Merida, 35, of Bradenton. Merida was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries. There were no other injuries.

The FHP said the crash happened about 2 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-275 at the Fletcher Avenue exit ramp. Troopers said the right rear tire of a 2009 Land Rover SUV driven by Shannon Schulstad, 33, of Tampa. Schulstad lost control of the SUV, which spun and collided with the pickup. The pickup spun and overturned. The SUV then hit a 2015 Acura SUV driven by Paul J. Schlicker, 68, of New Port Richey.

For information about the FHP, go to flhsmv.gov.

Florida Highway Patrol | Traffic Crash | Fatal Traffic Crash | TB Reporter

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