Motorcyclist dies in I-75 crash involving semi-truck

SARASOTA, Fla. - The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 are back open near Fruitville Road after a deadly crash.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said one person was killed Wednesday night in a crash involving a semi-truck and several motorcycles. Other motorcyclists were seriously injured.

According to investigators, the motorcyclists were heading south on I-75 on the Fruitville Road overpass. All were in the outside travel lane.

Around the same time, a semi-truck was also heading south approaching the overpass. It was in the center lane.

One of the motorcyclists, later identified as 56-year-old David James Boland of Englewood, lost control of his motorcycle and became separated from it. He struck one of the semi truck’s tires. 

The accident caused the three other motorcyclists to lose control of their vehicle, and they became separated from their motorcycles, too. All three – a 55-year-old, a 40-year-old and 51-year-old – along with a 50-year-old motorcyclist, were seriously injured. They remain in the hospital.

Paramedics said Boland passed away at the crash scene. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Florida Highway Patrol at 239-938-1800.