Massachusetts woman dies in I-75 crash, sparking driver safety concerns

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—A Massachusetts woman died in a car crash on Interstate 75 Monday morning.

The crash started when a semi-truck slammed into an SUV, causing a chain reaction and a six-car pileup. All lanes of traffic were shut down on Alligator Alley for hours.

The Florida Highway Patrol says two cars were stopped on I-75 on Monday morning. Three cars slowed down as well, but troopers say a semi-truck driven by a 33-year-old man from Pompano Beach "failed to slow down."

FHP says the semi-truck hit an SUV carrying two people from Massachusetts. The 69-year-old female passenger died at the scene.

Joseph Perez drives I-75 almost every day and sees many people behind the wheel but not watching the roadways.

"I see people on their phones not paying attention and, um, it's, it is pretty crazy nowadays, and I'm telling people all the time, you know, get off your phone, you can save a life," Perez said.

Perez says he has had many close calls lately and sees people on TikTok not watching the road or paying attention.

A driver who lives near I-75 was not surprised to hear about the crash. He takes U.S. 41 when he has to go to Miami because I-75 drivers are reckless.

"People keep driving crazy, you know, driving over a mile, the mileage, you know, that's what happens so many times. They are on the phone. Texting, even the speeding," the driver said.

Other drivers told WINK News off-camera that they feel more people are hitting the roads, causing backups along this stretch. One woman says traffic was so bad on the way to Sarasota that she turned around before she even got there.

"Everyone's driving too close, and I like to stay 10 cars behind as much as possible. Um, it gives you enough time to, to break ahead of you and to be a defensive driver. You gotta be a defensive driver to be on the road nowadays," Perez said.

Perez wants drivers to stay off their phones and pay attention to the road because it can save a life. WINK News is working to get the FHP crash report to learn more details about the crash.