Tampa, FL (April 1, 2025) – A 62-year-old woman from Lakeland was seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer Monday on Interstate 75 in the Tampa area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Incident Details: The crash occurred at 11:26 a.m. on March 31 when a 55-year-old semi-truck driver failed to slow down for traffic and rear-ended a Nissan Maxima driven by the Lakeland woman. The impact caused a chain-reaction crash involving five vehicles: the Nissan was pushed into a Honda Accord, which then struck a Toyota Camry, which collided with a Suzuki Grand Vitara. The Lakeland woman was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Other involved drivers were reportedly uninjured. Portions of I-75 were closed until 2:44 p.m., causing significant traffic delays.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the sequence of impacts and whether the truck driver was distracted or following too closely. In rear-end collisions involving commercial vehicles, liability often falls on the truck driver or their employer, especially if negligence contributed to the crash. The injured victim may be entitled to compensation for medical costs and other damages depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Source: Tampa Beacon