Updated: More than 50 injured in multi-vehicle crashes on I-75
Update:
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 52 people were taken to area hospitals as a result of at least 12 separate crashes on I-75 Friday afternoon.
Twenty-two of the injured were transported to Sarasota Hospital, 10 were transported to Manatee Hospital, and two transported via Bayflite with non-life threatening injuries
Southbound traffic remained diverted at University Parkway (Mile Marker 213) as of 9 p.m.
Traffic may re-enter at the On-Ramp of University Parkway
Original story:
SARASOTA (AP) – Authorities say multiple, multi-vehicle crashes on Interstate 75 are expected to block southbound traffic for several hours heading toward southwest Florida.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the collisions occurred Friday afternoon near the border between Sarasota and Manatee counties.
FHP says traffic is being diverted onto University Parkway and then allowed to re-enter the interstate on the other side of the overpass.