SARASOTA – The crash happened shortly after 1 PM at the overpass of I75 and University Parkway, at mile marker 213.
Florida Highway Patrol reports there are two confirmed deaths and three people critically injured. Seven were taken to Lakewood Ranch medical center and two critically injured were transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
“This is a result of an additional crash that was three miles south of where we are, where a vehicle with a trailer had been jackknifed and taken up all three Southbound lanes, which in fact backed up traffic all the way to University Parkway,” said Florida Highway Patrol State Trooper, Kenn Watson.
The Florida Highway Patrol is asking anyone traveling southbound on Interstate 75 through Manatee and Sarasota to seek an alternate route, as the Southbound lanes will remain closed for several more hours as FHP investigates.