Crime & Safety

Wesley Chapel Man Dies in I-75 Crash, Wife and Granddaughter Hospitalized

The Tuesday morning crash closed southbound Interstate 75 for several hours.

A 61-year-old Wesley Chapel man is dead while his wife and granddaughter are in serious condition following a crash on southbound Interstate 75 near State Road 56 Tuesday morning.

The accident happened around 10:42 a.m. May 21 as a 2012 Hyundai driven by John Porter, 61, of Wesley Chapel was heading southbound on the interstate’s outside center lane, just south of State Road 56. A dump truck driven by Cristobal Cepero, 49, of Tampa was hauling a load of dirt in the construction zone at the same time, a Florida Highway Patrol media release said.

Cepero exited the paved shoulder in an attempt to enter the southbound traffic lanes. When he did, his truck merged “directly into the path” of Porter’s vehicle.

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John Porter died at St. Joseph's Hospital from injuries sustained in the crash. His wife, Mary, 58, and their 3-year-old granddaughter Natalia Gracie Muncy were airlifted to St. Joseph’s and are in serious condition, according to Sgt. Steve Gaskins of the highway patrol.

Cepero was uninjured in the crash, Gaskins said.

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An investigation into the crash continues and charges are pending.

The wreck closed southbound I-75 for two hours.


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