Semi-truck crash closes I-75 near White Springs

A tractor-trailer burst into flames Friday morning after it collided with another tractor-trailer on I-75 near the White Springs exit in Suwannee County on Friday morning.

One tractor-trailer driven by a 28-year-old Jacksonville man was traveling northbound around 5:38 a.m. on I-75 in the right lane near mile marker 439 near Country Road 136 when it struck the rear of another tractor-trailer driven by a 69-year-old Tampa man, according to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) report.

The impact caused the Jacksonville driver’s tractor-trailer to travel across the center and left lanes and overturn onto its passenger side before striking the guardrail in the center median. There it caught fire and became completely engulfed in flames.

First responders transported the driver to an area hospital with minor injuries. The Tampa man driving the other tractor-trailer was not injured. Both drivers reportedly were wearing seatbelts.

FHP spokesman Patrick Riordan reported that emergency lanes remained open throughout most of the incident, avoiding a full shutdown of I-75.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.