I-75 lanes reopen after fuel, paint spill

GIBSONTON (FOX 13) - A crash involving four vehicles left some southbound lanes on Interstate 75 in Gibsonton closed for much of the day Monday.

A semi-truck, two dump trucks, and a street sweeper were all traveling southbound on I-75 approaching the Symmes Road exit after 11 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The semi and two dump trucks were in the outside lane, while the fourth vehicle was traveling in the outside paved shoulder. 

The driver of the semi lost control and traveled into the west shoulder to avoid a collision with one of the dump trucks, however, it collided with a crash barrier, which was being towed by one of the dump trucks, troopers said. 

The collision caused the semi to travel back into the outside lane, and collide with a trailer towed by the second dump truck. The dump truck was propelled into the rear of the street sweeper. 

The semi jackknifed, and stopped in the center late of the interstate. Troopers said roadway paint and diesel fuel spilled from the semi and onto the highway. The other three vehicles came to a final rest along the outside shoulder. 

The driver of the semi, identified as 41-year-old Travel Earl Blue, of Union Springs, Alabama, was cited for careless driving, and had minor injuries. The other drivers had no injuries. The two dump truck drivers were identified as 57-year-old Albert Johns, Jr., of Riverview and 42-year-old Christopher Reid, of Tampa. The street sweeper driver was identified as George Johnson, II, of Plant City. All were wearing a seatbelt.

There is no word on why the semi-truck driver lost control of his vehicle. 

The crash shut down the southbound lanes overnight, and at least some of the lanes remained closed for repaving. All lanes were back open by 3:45 p.m.