Fatal Trucking Accident in Tampa Leaves One Dead

One man is dead following an accident that occurred on Interstate 275 in Tampa Monday night.

Details about the Fatal Accident in Tampa

According to the Tampa Bay Times, a man is dead following a two-car accident that happened just north of Bearss Avenue on Interstate 275. The accident forced the closure of both the northbount and southbound lanes of the interstate until the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports a Chevrolet van was headed south on Interstate 275 around 11:45 p.m. when it stopped in the center lane. The van did not have its headlights, taillights, or running lights turned on. A semi-trailer truck driven by 49-year-old Harry Hobbs collided with the stopped van.

Authorities said that the van caught on fire and that the man inside the van died at the scene. Traffic was closed traveling both directions on I-275 until about 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said that the driver of the semi-trailer, Hobbs, was not hurt.

Important Information about Accidents that Happen at Night

According to Forbes:

• Car accidents kill more than 40,000 people every year and are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34.
• Across the United States, 49 percent of all traffic accidents happen at night – which equals a fatality rate per mile almost three times as high as the daylight hours.
• Mid-week days like Tuesday and Wednesday have the lowest number of average fatalities per day across the United States at about 96-100 fatalities per day.