Suzette Cook
Update (1 p.m.): A 74-year-old Palm Harbor died and two others were injured in a two-vehicle accident that shut down northbound I-75 for several hours Friday morning.
Both vehicles were driving northbound on I-75 when the accident occurred just after 8 a.m. The Palm Harbor woman, driving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, attempted to take the Williston Road exit from the center lane. A 2018 Lincoln MKX, driven by 77-year-old Sarasota man, was unable to stop before hitting the right side of the Equinox.
The Sarasota man and a 76-year-old female passenger, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, suffered minor injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) announced that all northbound lanes of I-75 were reopened around 11 a.m., but I-75 continued to experience heavy traffic into Friday afternoon. Other arteries in south Alachua County also saw delays, including SW Williston Road and US Highway 441.
Our earlier report (9:49 a.m.):
All northbound lanes of I-75 at Williston Road mile marker 382 are closed due to a two-vehicle crash with serious injuries.
According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) spokesperson Lt. Patrick Riordan, drivers can expect the area to be backed up until at least 11 a.m. as investigators complete their assessment of vehicles and the scene.
Mainstreet Daily News is on the scene noting that CR 234 and US Highway 441 are backed up as traffic is detoured and clogging those routes.
The situation US 441 is exacerbated by the fact that construction has a stretch of the northbound lanes down to one lane.