I-75 SB reopened near North Port 25 hours after fatal crash

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All lanes of I-75 were closed late Friday night into early Saturday morning in Sarasota County after a fatal wreck involving a semi fuel tanker. (Photo courtesy of the state Highway Patrol)

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Southbound lanes of I-75 through Sarasota County were reopened late Saturday night, more than 24 hours after a fatal fuel tanker crash shut down the highway in both directions.

Southbound lanes between exits 182 and 179 reopened at about 11:30 p.m. Northbound lanes reopened about 14 hours earlier.

George Ervin, 68, of Valrico, was killed in the single vehicle crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ervin’s tanker, which had approximately 8,500 gallons of fuel, was traveling southbound near Sumter Boulevard when the truck began to drift at about 10:45 p.m. Friday, troopers said. Ervin lost control of the truck, which then overturned, troopers said.

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