Crash closes lanes of I-75 SB between Colonial Blvd. and Daniels Pkwy.

A vehicle crash involving a state trooper closed I-75 southbound between Colonial Blvd. and Daniels Parkway at mile marker 134 Monday morning.

According to FHP, State Trooper Richard Verbiest was assisting Nicholas Jorgensen with his disabled 2002 Toyota on the inside shoulder the highway.

Meanwhile, Fernando Xavier Espinoza was traveling southbound in his 2012 Mazda SUV on I-75. To avoid a collision with slower traffic, Espinoza  swerved into the inside emergency lane on the shoulder rear ending Verbiest’s vehicle. The force of the impact propelled the trooper’s vehicle into the rear of the 2002 Toyota, according to the FHP press release.

In the report, Verbiest had minor injuries from the crash. He was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital. Espinoza had serious injuries and was also taken to Lee Memorial. Jorgensen was outside of his car when the collision occurred. He had a minor injury to his leg.

I-75 was completely shutdown after the crash happened, which was at approximately 10:04 a.m. It eventually began to move cars passed the scene of the crash at a slow pace, as the left and center lanes continue to be closed off.

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