Man, 27, Killed In Fiery I-75 Semi Crash

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The Florida Highway Patrol has released some details related to a Tuesday morning collision involving two semi-trucks along Interstate 75 in the Sarasota area. According to the agency, one of the motorists, a 27-year-old from Riverview, died following the crash.

Troopers say Matthew Simon was driving a semi south on I-75 in the right middle lane at mile marker 184 around 5 a.m. April 4. At that time, Fernando Irizarry Rivera, 61, of Saint Cloud was driving a semi in the same lane as Simon. Simon's truck was behind Rivera's, the patrol said.

Simon, a highway patrol report said, failed to slow down when approaching Rivera’s semi, which was traveling at a lower rate of speed. The front of Simon’s semi struck Rivera’s trailer.

Simon’s semi, the patrol said, ran off the road, onto the shoulder and then “became engulfed in flames.”

Simon died in the crash. Rivera was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Troopers say the crash remains under investigation.

The crash closed southbound lanes for several hours Tuesday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol