77-year-old Bradenton woman killed in crash with semi-truck in Manatee County, FHP says

A 77-year-old Bradenton woman died and her passenger was critically injured when they collided with a semi-truck in Manatee County on Saturday, Florida Highway Patrol said.

The crash happened around 9:45 a.m. on State Road 70 near the Interstate 75 interchange, the agency said.

Troopers say the Bradenton woman was driving a car in the outside lane of S.R. 70 East. But as traffic approached the I-75 South exit ramp, troopers say she “improperly changed” over one lane and into the path of a semi-truck.

The front of the semi-truck hit the left side of the car, FHP said.

The Bradenton woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger, a 78-year-old Bradenton man, was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries, the agency said.

The semi-truck driver, a 58-year-old Sarasota man, was uninjured, troopers said.

The crash remained under investigation on Sunday.