Update: 2 Northbound I-75 Lanes Now Open

Update Aug. 27, 5:05 p.m.: Lt. Gregory Bueno of the Florida Highway Patrol says two northbound lanes have reopened following Wednesday’s fuel truck crash. It was anticipated earlier that lanes would not open until 8 p.m. It is unclear at this time when the remaining lanes will open.

Update Aug. 27, 4:59 p.m.: The driver of the fuel truck involved in Wednesday’s crash on Interstate 75 has been identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as Thomas Grattan, 71, of Brooksville.

Grattan reminded in critical condition at Blake Medical Center as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the southbound truck veered into the grassy median and crossed into the northbound lanes and collided with a ditch. The tanker being hauled began to leak, resulting in the need for HAZMAT units to come out and clean up a fuel spill.

Northbound travel lanes will remain closed until approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, the patrol said in an email to media.

Northbound traffic is being detoured off at Bee Ridge Road.

Earlier:

An early Wednesday morning crash involving a fuel tanker has resulted in the closing of Interstate 75’s northbound lanes in the Fruitville Road area.

Lt. Gregory Bueno of the Florida Highway Patrol said the best estimate for reopening is between 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The accident happened just before 6 a.m. when a tanker heading south near Fruitville Road crossed into the northbound lanes, striking a pickup truck.

The driver of the tanker was airlifted to Bradenton’s Blake Medical Center in serious condition.

All northbound I-75 lanes are closed until further notice.

“It’s a slow process to offload that fuel,” Bueno explained. “We have to be very careful. We don’t want to make a bad situation worse.”

Motorists are asked to avoid using northbound I-75 in the Sarasota area.

Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.

Photo Credit: Workers clean up the fuel spill on Interstate 75. Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol