Teen Dies in I-75 Crash

A 17-year-old is dead following a Friday night crash on Interstate 75 north of State Road 60.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Waleika Swingler of Plant City was heading north in the outside lane behind a semi-truck around 9:20 p.m. Swingler’s vehicle overtook the semi and struck its rear. After the collision, the patrol wrote in an email to media, her Ford Focus became wedged under the trailer and was dragged for about 75 feet.

Swigler died at the scene.

The semi, however, kept going north, “most likely unaware a collision occurred,” the email stated.

Troopers are asking for anyone with information about the truck or its driver to contact 813-631-4020. The truck has been described as having a silver or white colored trailer.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol