Man dies in collision with garbage truck in Gibsonton

GIBSONTON — A 77-year-old man died in a crash with a garbage truck Thursday while changing lanes on U.S. 41 in Gibsonton.

Clyde J. Thomas of Ruskin was headed west about 3:16 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue in a 2002 Lincoln when he turned north onto U.S. 41, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Thomas, while traveling slowly, tried to move from the outside to the inside lane. As he changed lanes, Thomas moved into the path of a garbage truck operated by Progressive Waste Solutions of Florida that was headed north in the inside lane, troopers said.

The left side of the car collided with the front of the truck. Thomas died at the scene, troopers said.

The driver of the truck, Michael G. Hernandez, 29, was not injured.