21-year-old woman killed in Palmetto crash on U.S. 41, FHP says
A 21-year-old woman died in a car crash in Palmetto when her vehicle collided with the back of a tractor-trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
At 5:23 p.m. on Tuesday, the 21-year-old, who was from Ruskin and drove a 2008 Hyundai, was driving north on U.S. Highway 41 in the rightmost lane, according to an FHP news release.
A tractor-trailer, driven by a 53-year-old man from Bradenton, was also traveling north on the highway in the same lane, ahead of the Hyundai, the release said.
According to the FHP, there was another unspecified vehicle driving directly behind the tractor-trailer and in front of the Ruskin woman.
The tractor-trailer went through the Scale Avenue intersection, then began to slow and stop for a railroad crossing, according to the release.
The unspecified vehicle switched lanes to the left to avoid stopping behind the tractor-trailer, at which point the Ruskin woman failed to slow down and collided with the back of the tractor-trailer, the FHP said.
The 21-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to the FHP.
The Bradenton man driving the tractor-trailer was uninjured, according to the release.
The crash remains under investigation, FHP said.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:20 AM.
