Five people were injured late Thursday when their speeding Toyota Camry plowed into two tractor-trailers on Interstate 4 near the west Polk Parkway exit. The accident closed westbound lanes of I-4 into today’s morning commute times.
Two men were injured when they were ejected from the Camry, which was clocked at speeds up to 130 mph as the occupants tried to elude Florida Highway Patrol troopers, officials said. The troopers started chasing the Camry just before midnight after spotting it heading westbound at 102 mph between the two State Road 33 exits.
The Camry broke into several pieces when it crashed into vehicles parked in a construction zone where all but the left lane had been shut down, troopers said. The men, whose names have not been released, were a 37-year-old from Tampa and a 30-year-old from Port Charlotte.
Three others suffered minor injuries: two tractor-trailer drivers and the driver of a Subaru Outback that was hit by pieces of the Camry after it broke apart, the FHP said.
Troopers said they found $5,000 and several pounds of marijuana, News Channel 8 reported.
Westbound lanes of I-4 were closed between Memorial Boulevard and the Polk Parkway west exit until 7:30 a.m. Around 7 a.m., traffic on I-4 was backed up to U.S. 98.
Gallery – Click on any photo for larger versions of all the photos:
latest news
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
