A 34-year-old woman was killed and a 3-year-old child was injured after a semi truck struck a stopped pickup and sod trailer on northbound I-75 near Toledo Blade Boulevard in the North Port area, according to FHP.
A 34-year-old woman from New Port Richey was killed and a 3-year-old child suffered minor injuries early Sunday after a semi truck collided with a stopped pickup truck towing a trailer on northbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 178 in the North Port area of Sarasota County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The accident happened at 12:08 a.m. on April 12, 2026, according to FHP.
The accident began as a 34-year-old woman from New Port Richey was inside a pickup truck towing a trailer loaded with sod that had stopped in the northbound right lane of Interstate 75 near mile marker 178, about a mile south of Toledo Blade Boulevard in the North Port area, according to FHP. Exit 179 on I-75 is Toledo Blade Boulevard in North Port.
Also involved were a 19-year-old man from Tampa, a 33-year-old man from Alva, and a 3-year-old boy from New Port Richey.
As the group dealt with a possible trailer tire issue, a 61-year-old man driving a semi truck with trailer was traveling north in the right lane of Interstate 75 and approaching the stopped pickup and trailer, troopers said.
FHP said the right front of the semi truck collided with the left side trailer portion of the pickup and the left side of the pickup.
The driver of the pickup was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers said the 3-year-old boy suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The 19-year-old man from Tampa and the 33-year-old man from Alva, who were reported to be outside the vehicle at the time of the collision, also suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.
The semi truck driver also suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
