St. Petersburg Man Killed In I-75 Crash

SARASOTA, FL — A 16-year-old Bradenton boy faces charges following a fatal crash on Interstate 75 Tuesday morning that left a St. Petersburg man dead.

The accident occurred just after 3 a.m. as a tanker truck loaded with 8,500 gallons of gasoline was heading southbound in the outside lane of I-75, a Florida Highway Patrol report said. At that time, a 2008 Volvo driven by 16-year-old from Lakewood Ranch was also heading south in front of the tanker, the report said.

For reasons the report does not explain, the tanker struck the rear of the Volvo. The tanker then veered onto a grass shoulder, overturned and burst into flames, the report said.

The driver of the tanker died at the scene, troopers said. Troopers have identified him as Robert Drewelus, 53, of St. Petersburg.

The Volvo's driver fled the scene, the report said. The vehicle was later found at the Gateway Lakes Apartments and the teen was arrested at his Bradenton home around 7:02 a.m., the report noted.

The teen driver now faces second-degree felony charges for leaving the scene of an accident involving death, the report said. He also faces violation of his learner's permit charges.

Patch is not identifying the teen due to his age.

The accident initially prompted a closing of all southbound I-75 lanes in the area. At 7 a.m., the highway patrol said the inside southbound lane had reopened. The center southbound lane reopened around 1 p.m. The outside lane remained closed Tuesday afternoon for cleanup and scene processing, the patrol said.

It is unclear how long the road will remain closed.

The crash itself remains under investigation.

No further information is available.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol

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