Update, 9:51 a.m., July 21: The driver of the first vehicle has since died from her injuries, according to FHP. Her name is not being released pending notification of next of kin.
Update, 11:48 p.m., July 20: All lanes of Interstate 75 have reopened, according to Sgt. Steve Gaskins of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Earlier:
The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 are closed south of State Road 54 following a three-vehicle collision that sent two motorists to the hospital with injuries.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol media release, a 2008 Honda Civic driven by an unidentified 17-year-old girl from Largo was traveling southbound on I-75 around 5:30 p.m. today when the driver lost control. The Civic crossed the median and went into the northbound lanes, striking a Chevy pickup driven by Kyle Mansfield, 25, of Hernando County. Mansfield’s pickup then collided with a 2000 Ford Ranger driven by Christina Penner, 46, of Largo.
The Civic split into two section and subsequently caught on fire.
The 17-year-old was critically injured in the crash. Mansfield suffered serious injuries, the highway patrol reported. Penner has minor injuries, but did not require transport to a hospital.
“All northbound lanes of I-75 are currently closed and will remain closed for several hours,” wrote Sgt. Steve Gaskins in an email to the media. “Due to debris in the roadway and emergency response vehicles/helicopters, the southbound lanes were also closed, but have now re-opened. Northbound motorists are encouraged to seek alternative routes such as US-41 or US-301 and exit northbound I-75 at SR-56 or before.”
The investigation into the crash continues. All three drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.
