North Port, FL : Southbound Interstate 75 reopens after North Port fatal tanker crash on Friday night, September 23, 2016
The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 reopened late Saturday evening after emergency crews completed roadway repairs after a fuel tanker carrying about 8,500 gallons of fuel overturned, killing its 68-year-old driver.
At about 10:45 p.m., George Ervin of Valrico was driving the tanker truck south in the right lanes of I-75 near mile marker 182 at Sumter Boulevard when the tanker began to drift between the left and right lanes, according to a news release. The driver lost control of the tanker and it overturned onto its right side.
The northbound lanes reopened at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. Southbound lanes remained closed until about about 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Sumter and Toledo Blade boulevards had been closed while emergency crews assessed the conditions and cleaned up, according to North Port police on Saturday morning.
Traffic on southbound I-75 was rerouted off the highway at River Road, down to U.S. 41 and back onto the interstate at Toledo Blade.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection was called to the scene Friday night. The North Port Public Works Department hauled dirt to the scene to contain the spill overnight and fueled fire department vehicles.
Additional agencies that were called out to assist included North Port, Nokomis, Charlotte County, Sarasota County and Southern Manatee fire rescues.
Source :
Southbound Interstate 75 reopens after North Port fatal tanker crash