Crash leaves truck dangling along I-75

CROOM (FOX 13) - The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 are closed after an accident that left a dump truck dangling off a bridge.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 1 p.m. near mile marker 307. That’s at the Croom Wildlife Management area, north of Ridge Manor.

Troopers say the dump truck lost control and overturned on the bridge over the Withlacoochee River, spilling its load of compost and coming to rest on top of the concrete barrier.  The undercarriage of the truck wound up hanging off the span.

The driver -- later identified as Jose Llerena-Fuentes of Tampa -- managed to climb down from the truck with only minor injuries and was rescued by a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Airboat team.

Troopers did not immediately say what caused him to lose control, but they say charges are pending.

All northbound lanes were closed for several hours, reopening just before 6 p.m.