Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) continue to investigate a fatality crash that occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021.
The crash involved a pickup truck that was traveling northbound on the Veterans Expressway, north of Hillsborough Avenue in the outside lane. For unknown reason, the driver of the pickup truck lost control which entered the outside shoulder and collided with a concrete barrier wall. The pickup was redirected back into the travel lanes and collided with the right side drive axles of a unloaded tractor trailer that was traveling northbound in the outside center lane.
Upon impact, the tractor trailer began to jackknife and both vehicles traveled to the outside shoulder and collided with the barrier wall. Both vehicles came to final rest against the end of the barrier wall and at the start of a metal guardrail at which point both vehicles caught fire and burned severely.
The driver of the pickup truck remains unidentified at this time and died at the scene.
The 52 year-old Brandon resident that was operating the tractor trailer was not injured in the crash according to FHP.
The northbound lanes of Veterans Expressway will remain closed at Hillsborough Avenue until the investigation is completed. As of 5:20 p.m. the roadway remained closed with a reported two mile delay. All lanes reopened at 6:25 p.m.