UPDATE (3:30PM) -- Troopers have identified the victim on Tuesday morning's fiery crash on Interstate 75 in North Port.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, 27-year-old Matthew Simon of Riverview was driving a tractor trailer truck south on I-75 at 5:08 a.m. when he approached a slower truck in the same lane. Simon was unable to avoid the other truck and hit the rear end of the trailer.
Simon's truck then veered onto the shoulder then became engulfed in flames.
Simon died at the scene.
The driver of the other truck suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital.
The crash is still under investigation.
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UPDATE (12:45PM) -- FHP says all southbound lanes of I-75 have re-opened near mile marker 184, near the Sumter Boulevard exit.
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UPDATE (10AM) -- FHP reports that one southbound lane of I-75 has re-opened at mile marker 184 while crews clean up this morning's fatal crash.
Drivers are urged to use caution in the area.
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SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. -- Troopers closed all southbound lanes of Interstate 75 Tuesday morning due to a fatal tractor trailer truck fire near North Port.
The crash happened at approximately 5:19am near mile marker 183, just before the Sumter Boulevard exit (#182).
Florida Highway Patrol reports that two trucks were involved in the crash -- one carrying ice cream, and one carrying beer.
All traffic is being diverted at the River Road exit in Venice at mile marker 191. Southbound drivers must head south on River Road to U.S. 41 south, returning to the interstate on Sumter Boulevard or Toledo Blade Boulevard.
Northbound traffic remains open on I-75.
FHP Highway Patrol reports a fatality at the scene.
We'll update with more details as they become available.
Involved semi transporting ice cream the other truck is transporting beer. Plz travel safely, two eyes on road mind on driving! pic.twitter.com/Zs9bCyHRo2
— Lt. Gregory Bueno (@FHPTrooper_SWFL) April 4, 2017
