Sarasota Man Dies After Truck Overturns

Authorities continue to investigate a crash that killed a Sarasota cement truck driver, whose vehicle overturned on U.S. 301 North in Ellenton, just east of I-75. It took rescue workers two hours to remove the driver's body from the wreckage.

Jerry Wayne Hart, 52, was driving a 2007 cement mixer truck east in Ellenton and failed to stop at a red light behind a 1996 Mazda Miata driven by Malcome Eugene Bois, 59, of Palmetto, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. 

The crash ocurred at about 9:12 a.m.

Hart had apparently steered right to avoid colliding into the Miata, but the truck's right front tire struck the Miata's rear, pushing the car into the intersection, Highway Patrol said.

The truck ran into the south shoulder of U.S. 301 and rotated counter-clockwise and overturned, striking a palm tree and fence, a traffic control box, power pole and into traffic.

The truck rested on its roof facing north on the south shoulder, Highway Patrol said. The roof of the truck crumpled underneath the weight of the vehicle. Hart was trapped inside.

Traffic heading to the outlet mall was delayed and routed around the scene. Rescue workers worked for two hours to remove the body from the wreckage, according to Bradenton.com.

West was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bois suffered minor injuries.