Tire blowout causes interstate crash

WESLEY CHAPEL -- A tire blowout caused a Mack truck to hit a guardrail and overturn on southbound Interstate 75 this afternoon, temporarily closing the highway.

Driver Prem Ramanand, 57, was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital with serious injuries, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers closed part of the interstate because of a fuel leak caused by the crash, which happened at 3:40 p.m. about a mile south of S.R. 54 near Wesley Chapel.

The truck was traveling southbound in the outside lane when the front left tire blew out, the FHP reported. The truck swerved to the left, hit a guardrail and overturned, coming to rest in the median.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer