Two killed in wrong-way I-275 crash

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An early morning crash on Interstate 275 is being blamed on a wrong-way driver who was among one of two people who died in the accident.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, it was just after 5:30 a.m. when an Acura drove the wrong way onto an exit ramp from I-275 in downtown Tampa.  Near the West Palm Avenue overpass, it slammed head-on into an SUV.

The driver of the Acura, identified by troopers as Larry Thompson, 47, died in the crash.  The SUV driver, identified as Eugene Fischer, 65, was also killed.

Neither were wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

The interstate was closed for several hours while the crash was investigated and cleaned up, with delays stretching for miles along I-275 and I-4.

Troopers are not sure yet why the Acura was headed the wrong way, or if drugs or alcohol were a factor.

"There is information that FHP investigators are aware of that places [Thompson] traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of mainline I-275 near Howard Avenue, but it remains under investigation where he may have exited and/or re-entered the roadway to arrive at the crash site," the FHP accident report states.

Stay with FOX 13 for updates on this developing story.