3 Dead In Multi-Vehicle Crash On I-75 Near Fruitville Rd In Sarasota

Daniel Murphy Crash Reports Mar/10/2020

SARASOTA FL - Florida Highway Patrol reported a deadly multi-vehicle crash on interstate 75 in Sarasota near the Fruitville Road exit.

The crash, which occurred at 7:20 AM closed down northbound lanes of I-75 for 8 hours, traffic did not fully re-open until approximately 3:00 PM.

As this crash remains under active investigation, details of this crash are forthcoming and we will update this article as more information becomes available. So far what we know is:

A major accident has occurred in Sarasota on the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 approaching Fruitville exit (near mile marker 210), at 7:20 AM.

The crash involved a total of 7 vehicles and resulted in 3 deaths, one person in critical condition, once person in serious condition and two people with minor injuries.

The people and vehicles involved in the crash included:

55 year old Angela Blase from Venice Florida was northbound in a 2013 Ford Mustang driving in the far left lane.

A 2006 Mack Cement Truck, driven by 50 year old Joseph S. Lydic from Sarasota was traveling north in the center lane.

57 year old Elizabeth Gunn from Sarasota was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla in the left lane driving north.

24 year old Joseph Pontillo from Sarasota was lawfully stopped on the shoulder in a disabled Dodge Durango.

Also stopped on the shoulder to assist Pontillo, was 53 year old Mario Mendoza of Cape Coral in a 2001 Chevy pickup truck.

Also traveling northbound on I-75 were 56-year-old Jose Leal in a 2018 Dodge 2500 Pickup Truck and 21 year old Jesse Pillinger of Charlotte in a 2019 Chevy 4500.

FHP has not yet released the causes or events of the crash, however we do know the that the crash had the following casualties:

Cement truck driver Lydic was died in the crash.

Pontilla - stopped on the shoulder died in the crash.

Leal - driving the Dodge 2500 was killed in the crash.

Mendoza - stopped to assist Pontilla was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in critical condition.

Angela Blase was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in serious condition.

The tragic accident remains under investigation and Florida Highway Patrol has asked anyone with knowledge to contact them at (239) 938-1800 or on a cell phone *FHP (*347).

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