ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE: Floriday Highway Patrol has clarified information regarding Saturday’s wreck that killed one person. The accident happened just before 5 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Marion County.
An incident report says a van and truck collided as the driver of the van was changing lanes. The collision caused both vehicles to spin out and onto the grassy shoulder. The report says “both vehicles began to overturn and collided with multiple trees.”
Marion County Fire Rescue crews pronounced the driver of the van dead at the scene. They identified the driver as a 57-year-old woman from Jacksonville.
The 36-year-old, male driver of the truck was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.
In an email, Lt. P.V. Riordan of Florida Highway Patrol Troop B clarified information that had previously been released. “Earlier on it was thought to be a tractor trailer involved but turned out to be a heavy-duty truck pulling a trailer that had vehicles loaded on it. In addition, it was believed to be a double fatality but actually only one person was killed.”
The accident shutdown the southbound lanes of I-75 backing traffic up into Alachua County where drivers were detoured.
UPDATE: Just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, the Floriday Highway Patrol said two southbound lanes are now open and traffic is no longer being detoured.
Traffic Alert Update for Alachua & Marion County In re to the earlier fatality crash at the 372 mm of S/B I-75 -two lane southbound lanes are now open and the previous detours have been removed.
— FHP Gainesville (@FHPGainesville) September 10, 2023
ORIGINAL: According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), all southbound lanes of I-75 in Alachua County are shutdown due to a deadly accident.
FHP District 2 (Gainesville) post on X (formerly known as Twitter) indicates the accident involved a tractor trailer and a mini-van in the southbound lanes of I-75 at mile marker 372.
Southbound traffic is being detoured off I-75 at the Williston Road exit and at CR 234.
FHP advises motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
This is a developing story. Check back often for upates. We’ll post new information as we get it.
Traffic Alert -Alachua Co- a double fatality tractor trailer vs mini van crash on the southbound side of I75 at the 372 mm has all lanes closed. South traffic is being detoured off at the Williston Road exit & CR 234 exit. Motorist should seek other routes until further notice.
— FHP Gainesville (@FHPGainesville) September 9, 2023