Two people suffered minor injuries Saturday morning after an oversized load struck a Subaru Forester while traveling northbound on Interstate 75 in Pasco County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 9:52 a.m. near mile marker 280.
According to investigators, a tractor-trailer combination transporting an empty evaporator tank was traveling northbound in the outside lane of I-75. The specialized transport consisted of a tractor pulling two oversized-hauler trailers.
A 23-year-old Georgia woman was driving a Subaru Forester northbound in the center lane alongside the oversized load.
FHP said a 70-year-old Havana man operating a Dodge Ram 2500 helper vehicle, which was part of the oversized load transport operation, unlocked the rear trailer to assist with a lane change. Investigators say releasing the steering lock allowed the rear portion of the oversized trailer to swing into the center lane.
The rear of the trailer struck the Subaru before the massive empty evaporator tank overrode the SUV. Both vehicles came to rest blocking all northbound lanes of I-75.
The Subaru driver and her 22-year-old female passenger, also from Georgia, suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The driver of the oversized transport, a 36-year-old Kansas man, was not injured.
Northbound I-75 remained blocked until approximately 11:40 a.m. as emergency crews worked to remove the damaged vehicles and clear the roadway.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.