I-75 reopens after fiery Sarasota crash

The northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Sarasota have reopened this morning after a fiery overnight crash left them closed for more than six hours.

Around 1 a.m., authorities said a semitrailer truck smashed into a dump truck that had been acting as
a buffer in front of a street sweeper working in the outside shoulder.

The impact sent the dump truck into the street sweeper and punctured the semi's fuel tank, causing the semi to catch fire, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

Authorities closed the northbound lanes at the 209 mile marker as Sarasota fire crews and Florida Department of Transportation officials worked to clean the resulting fuel spill.

The semi's driver, Larry M. Cogar, 58, of Lancaster, Ohio, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg with a broken leg, said FHP Lt. Paul France.

The driver of the dump truck, Robert Benjamin, 62, Riverview, and the operator of the street sweeper, Justin Davis, 26, Riverview, were taken to Doctors Hospital of Sarasota with minor injuries.

France said it is unclear why the semi smashed into the dump truck, which was illuminated by rear strobe and contained a lighted arrow directing the approaching traffic from the outside lane.

At 7:30 a.m., no charges have been filed.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer