A 42-year-old Florida man died when the tanker truck that he was driving overturned on Interstate 75 near mile marker 206 in Sarasota County. A 24-year-old Kissimmee man driving a pickup truck who was also involved in the accident was not injured.
According to authorities, the accident occurred when the tanker truck veered into the center lane of the interstate in front of the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck steered left and slammed on his brakes, but he crashed into the side of the tanker truck. Both vehicles were propelled off the highway and over a cable barrier. The tanker truck overturned, trapping the driver underneath it. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 36-year-old passenger in the tanker truck was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital.
The cause of the accident has not been determined, although authorities say that it may have been weather-related. Toxicology tests on the tanker truck driver are pending. Troopers spent hours surveying and marking the scene following the accident.
Reconstructing the scene of a catastrophic car accident scene is critical to determining what happened to cause the accident. A thorough reconstruction will not only include the collection of evidence at the scene, but also taking statements from survivors of the accident and uninvolved persons who witnessed the accident.
Survivors of car crashes may suffer bodily injuries, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and emotional and mental stresses. A personal injury attorney may help these individuals to pursue financial compensation by negotiating with insurance companies for a settlement.
Source: Herald-Tribune, “Tanker driver dies in I-75 crash”, Elizabeth Johnson, September 26, 2013