A 65-year-old Clearwater man died following a crash on February 24, 2026, at approximately 7:45 a.m., on the exit ramp from northbound Interstate 275 to eastbound Interstate 4.
According to investigators, the man was driving a Chevy pickup northbound along the exit ramp when he suffered a medical emergency. The pickup struck the rear of a Mazda SUV that was traveling ahead of him. The SUV was driven by a 21-year-old woman from Thonotosassa.
After the initial collision, the pickup continued forward, striking a guardrail multiple times before becoming wedged between two concrete traffic barriers.
The Clearwater man was transported to an area hospital, where he later died.
The driver of the Mazda SUV brought her vehicle to a controlled stop and was not injured.
