9 Hospitalized After I-75 Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash on southbound Interstate 75 that sent nine people to the hospital Wednesday morning.

According to the highway patrol, a Lexus was heading south on I-75 in the outside lane north of Interstate 4 around 8:59 a.m. The driver of the Lexus stopped in the lane, attempting to merge onto the I-4 ramp.

At that time, an E350 van carrying several children struck the rear of the Lexus, an email from highway patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins said. The van was then “struck by a tractor trailer transporting roof tiles.”

All told, nine people were sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital with injuries, Gaskins said. Those injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The crash remains under investigation with no further details available at this time. It is unclear how many children were hospitalized following the wreck.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol