SARASOTA COUNTY, FL – Sarasota County deputies were called to a collision between a semi-truck and a trash truck on I-75 North at mile marker 194 Friday.
FOX 13 News said first responders left one lane open to accommodate the flow of traffic while still leaving several lanes closed to accommodate the scene clearance process.
It is not immediately clear if anyone was injured or what exactly led to this crash.
PALMETTO, FL – A driver whose semi-truck was parked managed to not sustain any injuries, while a 35-year-old man died following a fiery collision Friday.
WFLA said the crash happened before 2:30 a.m. at U.S. 41 and Piney Point Road when the 35-year-old man, driving a car, had struck the semi-truck, leading the vehicles to catch fire. As a result, the man died at the scene.
Florida Highway Patrol only identified the 35-year-old man as a Ruskin resident and the semi-driver as a 45-year-old man from Georgia.
TAMPA, FL – Hillsborough County firefighters were summoned to a semi-truck fire reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday outside Walmart SuperCenter on Gunn Highway.
First responders told WFLA that a caller noticed smoke coming from the back of the truck (storing empty wood pallets) and wanted crews to come. Fortunately, fire crews arrived a short time later and were able to ventilate the smoke out of the store and extinguish the flames.
The driver and people inside and around the store were unharmed. It is not immediately clear what brought about the fire.
TAMPA, FL – A chain reaction collision on I-275 led a Kenworth garbage truck to overturn, leading it to spill sand and diesel fuel, resulting in four people sustaining injuries Wednesday.
WFLA said the events of the crash unfolded before 7:45 a.m. when a driver of a Ford F-150 struck the back of a Ford F250. The motorist of the Ford F250 had allegedly failed to reduce their speed, resulting in the rear end. When both pickup trucks collided, they then crashed into a concrete wall.
The Ford F150 driver then struck a Dodge Challenger and then into the dump truck, which led the Challenge and garbage truck to roll over.
TAMPA, FL – An SUV driver was seriously hurt in a crash involving a semi-truck that happened south of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Orient Road Jail Friday.
WTSP said this collision occurred at the East Adamo Drive and Orient Road junction, and Tampa Police responded to the crash after 5:30 p.m. Police immediately shut down the eastbound lanes (located between Maydell Drive and Orient Road) after arriving.
It is not immediately clear when lanes reopened if the driver was transported to an area hospital, and what exactly led to this collision.
GIBSONTON, FL – A tractor-trailer driver lost control of their truck, leading it to jackknife and them to crash into a barrier wall on I-75 North after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
WTSP said the force of the collision caused fuel to spill from the truck, resulting in crews shutting down the northbound lanes to contain the spill. The motorist sustained minor injuries, and officials did not reveal whether they were sent to a hospital for treatment or as a precaution.
PLANT CITY, FL – A semi-truck rolled over and landed on its side on I-4 West, resulting in all lane closures for the westbound directions and significant delays.
Fox 13 News said that injuries were sustained. However, it is unclear how many people were hurt and what exactly led to this crash.
Our newsroom will be sure to provide updates as they become publicly available.
LAKELAND, FL – Right people were hospitalized after an Amtrak train collided with a semi-truck in Lakeland last Friday night.
According to WESH, the train, bound for New York, hit the semi-truck as it was stopped on the tracks crossing North Canal Avenue, just south of US-92.
In total, eight victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It is unclear whether the truck driver suffered injuries as a result of the crash.
WalletHub named Tampa the 9th fastest growing city in the United States in 2020, which means tourism and revenue are up in the area, but this also means rush hour traffic can be a nightmare to contend with.
At Whittel & Melton, our Tampa Bay Car and Truck Accident Lawyers know full well that there is no realistic way to completely avoid traffic. However, there are some tips we can offer to help you spend less time sitting in heavy traffic, which may help you have a better day.
Steering clear of traffic reduces your chances of being involved in a car accident significantly, which is just one benefit. If you have been involved in a car accident in the Tampa Bay area then we urge you to get in touch with us to learn more about what we can do to help you file a personal injury claim for damages.
The good news is that there are some great strategies that you can implement when you are aware of the traffic patterns and can act accordingly.
The more you understand about Tampa’s population growth, the more you can understand why traffic is such an issue. Interstate-275, I-4, I-75, SR 580, SR 582, SR 583, US 301, US 92, and Dale Mabry Highway are a few of the major highways that have become a bear to navigate during peak travel times throughout the day. While there are many benefits to minimizing your time spent in traffic and thus in your vehicle, the main one is that the less amount of time you are on the roads the less likely you are to be involved in a car accident. We know that it is not always possible to avoid a car accident, but we know that there are ways to reduce the odds of being involved in one.
Read on to understand more about traffic in Tampa and how you can navigate it more effectively.
Factors that Contribute to Growing Traffic in Tampa
Increasing Population
Florida dominates the growth trend as an entire state, and Tampa Bay is growing every single day with more people setting up residence here. Over the past 9 years Tampa’s population growth rate remains pretty consistent ranging from 0.63% to 2.45%, adding around 2,199 to 8,817 people every year. There are numerous workers and entrepreneurs moving here every year to take advantage of the many job opportunities, which contributes to the strong population growth.
Construction Projects
Tampa has its fair share of construction projects that result in lane closures, street closures, etours, and of course, delays. You can register for alerts to be sent to your phone or email each day so that you can have an update about traffic patterns before you leave your house every morning.
Some of the construction projects in Tampa include:
By knowing these locations and the traffic patterns, you can plan alternate routes and help yourself have a better commute.
Learn Peak Traffic Times in Tampa
When you are able to understand the peak times and traffic patterns, it can become a great deal easier to navigate Hillsborough and Pinellas County traffic.
The “Rush Hour Rampage” in Tampa is from 7:30 and 9:30 am and again from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. During these times, it is best to avoid Hillsborough Ave and popular I-275 exits.
Back Roads Might Increase Your Travel Time
While you might think that taking the back roads will shorten your commute, you’d be wrong. There are over 130 main roads in Pinellas County that have smart technology, like Ulmerton Rd. and U.S. 19, so if you are traveling with traffic the green lights actually last longer. Smaller roads like Belcher Rd. or Bellaire Rd. have shorter green lights, which means more time waiting.
Follow Speed Limits
The “InSync” smart traffic signals are timed to work with speed limits, so if you are going too fast or too slow then you could hit more red lights.
Talk to Your Boss About Working from Home
Even if you can work a few days from home, this could help you avoid a few days of traffic. Start by asking your boss to work 1-2 days from home to show that you can be just as productive at your home office as at your work office. If you can show that you are able to be as productive, if not more, then they may be more inclined to let you work more days from home or even full time at home.
You could even ask to work off peak hours so that you avoid rush hour traffic, like 10:00am to 7:00pm or 6:00am to 2:00pm.
Take Advantage of Public Transportation
Tampa boasts many different options for getting around, such as bikes and buses. Tampa has Coast Bikes available and numerous hubs to park them located around the city. Tampa also has various scooters to rent, such as Lime, Bird and Spin. Tampa also has a pirate water taxi, the Downtowner ride share service, the Hart bus, Zipcar, and the Teco Line Streetcar.
Avoiding Traffic Means Hours of Your Life Back
Rush hour traffic can add hundreds of wasted hours to your life. By taking advantage of some of the options we have outlined above, you will see lots of time saved and value added back to your life. You will also minimize your risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Continue reading
A Tampa man was killed Monday after his van was involved in a crash with a semi truck on Fowler Avenue in Tampa Bay.
The 58-year-old man behind the wheel of the van was travelling east on Fowler around 10:30 p.m. when he failed to navigate a curve in the road. The Florida Highway Patrol said the van exited the roadway and crossed the median right into the path of a big rig that was heading north.
The van became stuck under the semi truck and eventually came to a stop near the west shoulder of southbound 301.
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