Major 4th of July traffic backup after I-75 crash in Gainesville

A crash occurred about 10:50 a.m. on Thursday, the Fourth of July, on Interstate 75 in Alachua County, resulting in significant traffic disruptions and the need for emergency medical services.

The crash happened near the 390 mile marker, which is at State Road 222 (Northwest 39th Avenue.) According to a Florida Highway Patrol news release, a Honda Pilot SUV was southbound on I-75 when a tire malfunction caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The SUV veered into the path of a semitractor-trailer. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the truck driver swerved and crashed into several trees off the right shoulder, the release says.

The truck driver was trapped inside the vehicle. Emergency responders arrived on scene, and a Shands Life Flight helicopter was called. The helicopter landed directly on I-75, which required a complete road closure for an extended period, the release says.

The patrol no longer releases the names of people involved in crashes. The SUV driver was described only as a 26-year-old man from Doraville, Georgia. He was not injured. The truck driver was described only as a 39-year-old man from Hyattsville, Maryland. He suffered minor injuries.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the crash to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Major 4th of July traffic backup after I-75 crash in Gainesville