Two Separate Crashes Close Down Both Directions of I-75 in Pasco

Wesley Chapel, Florida — Two isolated accidents in Pasco County — one a fiery crash that split a car in two, the other an overturned semitrailer — closed both directions of Interstate 75 along the North Suncoast on Friday night, causing a traffic fright for many drivers.

Late Friday evening another crash involving a pedestrian fatality encouraged authorities to close all eastbound lanes of Interstate 4 at Hillsborough County Line Road around 10:30 p.m.

The first of the series of accidents occurred on I-75 around 5:40 p.m. when a 2008 Honda Civic lost control and crossed over the median into oncoming traffic. According to Florida Highway Patrol, the car split in two and caught fire after smashing into two northbound vehicles, a Chevy pickup and a Ford Ranger.

The woman driving the Civic was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital with a severe head injury. As of Friday evening, her condition was not available.

The 25-year-old man driving the pickup was taken to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills with serious injuries.

The driver of the Ranger, a 46-year-old Largo woman, was treated at the accident site for minor injuries.

Debris and emergency vehicles from the first accident caused traffic to back up on the southbound side of the highway, causing the second crash to take place.

A car unexpectedly changed lanes in front of a semitrailer, causing the 40-year-old truck driver to hit the brakes and lose control of his truck. He ended up driving onto the grass shoulder and crashed into a guardrail.

According to troopers, the truck jackknifed and then rolled onto its left side before coming to a stop on the median. The driver did not suffer any injuries.

The crashes closed the interstate’s northbound lanes from State Road 56 to State Road 54 in Pasco County and the southbound lanes from State Road 50 in Hernando County to State Road 56.

Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States endures a traumatic brain injury . In fact, a total of 1.5 million Americans annually suffer from a TBI and another 50,000 die from their injuries. Currently, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with disabilities that come along with a TBI. Brain injuries affect the way people think, act and feel. Unfortunately, these injuries can change everything about the people we know and love in a matter of seconds.

Suffering a TBI after a car accident can be very challenging. A TBI takes place when the brain is damaged due to sudden extreme force. Common symptoms associated with a TBI may include a concussion, seizures, headaches, dizziness, inability to concentrate, memory loss and sometimes anxiety and depression. A mild TBI may only involve momentary loss of consciousness, whereas a severe TBI can result in coma or amnesia. Most severe TBIs cause paralysis, seizures, impaired speech and sensory losses, which can seriously impact a victim and their families’ lives.

Victims suffering from a TBI may be unable to work or perform daily activities as a result of their injury. The Pasco County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are familiar with the many hardships and challenges TBI victims face. We can carefully investigate your case, work with medical professionals to accurately assess the full scope of your injuries and consult with experts who can determine fault after an accident. We understand that brain trauma can create long-term consequences and costs, which is why we want to make sure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a motor vehicle accident in Wesley Chapel, contact the Pasco Auto Accident Injury Lawyers online or call 727-847-2299.