1 dead in Alligator Alley crash in Collier

Florida Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash that caused a large traffic backup along the Alligator Alley portion of southbound I-75 in Collier County Friday.

According to FHP, state troopers responded to the crash in southbound lanes at mile marker 83, after reports were received just before 5:30 p.m.

FHP confirms Joseph L. Leflore, 37, of Fort Myers was killed in the crash along the interstate.

The crash was just west of State Road 29 and Miles City.

According to FHP, Leflore was traveling westbound in a 2014 Land Rover along the Alley toward mile marker 83. At the same time, a driver in a semi-truck was traveling eastbound on the interstate toward the mile marker. That’s when the Land Rover went off the road into the grassy median onto the eastbound travel lanes and hit the semi-truck on its left side.

Collier County EMS responded to the crash and pronounced Leflore dead at the scene.

A complete roadblock backed up traffic on the Alley for several hours into early morning Saturday before the crash was cleared.

The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash can contact FHP at 239-938-1800, or dial *347 on a cell phone to text info.