One killed, two seriously injured when SUV is hit by semitrailer in Zephyrhills

ZEPHYRHILLS — A 40-year-old man was killed Friday when he turned his SUV into the path of a semitrailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Otis Allen Road and Old Lakeland Highway.

The SUV driver had stopped at a stop sign on Otis Allen Road at the intersection of Old Lake Highway, troopers said.

The semitrailer and its two occupants were headed south on Old Lake Highway, approaching Otis Allen Road.

Then the SUV driver turned left and entered the path of the semitrailer, according to the Highway Patrol. The front of the truck struck the driver’s side of the SUV. The crash caused the semitrailer to rotate and overturn. Both vehicles ended up on the east shoulder.

The SUV driver, a Zephyrhills man, died of his injuries at the crash scene. A 45-year-old man who was driving the semitrailer and an 18-year-old passenger, both from Dade City, suffered serious injuries. Everyone involved in the crash was wearing their seatbelts.

The Highway Patrol did not release the names of anyone involved in the crash.