SARASOTA (FOX 13) -
The Florida Highway Patrol has finished its investigation into October's large pileup crash on Interstate 75. Though weather was cited as a factor, troopers say "driver error" was also a contributing cause and 19 drivers were cited.
It was after a small rainstorm back on October 5 when the pileup happened on I-75's southbound lanes near the University Parkway overpass. The road was closed for six hours as the victims were rescued and the scene cleaned up.
FHP's final tally on the pileup:
- 21 traffic crashes involving 53 vehicles
- 52 injuries
- 22 were injured badly enough to require hospitalization
- 2 victims flown from scene
- No deaths
"Drivers are reminded they must consider real-time roadway conditions and pattern their driving behavior to accommodate roadway conditions as they are encountered," concluded the FHP's report on the incident.
Editor's note: a previous version of this story reported that 18 citations had been issued because of incorrect information provided by the FHP. Today, they issued a media release saying the correct number is 19.
