21-year-old Navy airman killed while trying to help others on I-75 in Charlotte County

A 21-year-old Navy airman from Port Charlotte was killed Wednesday evening while trying to help the victims of a crash on I-75 in Charlotte County.

The Florida Highway Patrol says the man, identified by family as Trevor Smith, saw a crash between two vehicles happen in front of him, so he pulled onto the shoulder and ran across the interstate to the median, where the vehicles ended up, to see if he could help.

While Smith was assisting, an oncoming pickup traveled off the road and struck him, as well as the two vehicles involved in the initial crash.

The crash happened in the southbound lanes, just past Kings Highway, at about 6 p.m., when a sedan lost control, forcing a semi to collide with it.

The driver of the semi was taken to Lee Memorial with “traumatic” injuries, according to troopers.

The driver of the pickup that struck the pedestrian and his two passengers were not injured.

The driver and passenger in the sedan were both taken to the hospital with injuries.

Troopers say the crash remains under investigation.

The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the names of those involved in crashes, citing Marsy’s Law.