Tampa man, 42, killed on southbound I-75 in Palmetto when tire blows on giant crane

Tampa driver John L. Well, 42, was killed when a crane flipped over and crashed on Interstate 75, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, all southbound lanes of I-75 at mile marker 228 south of Interstate 275 were reopened to traffic after being shut for nearly two hours, according to FHP trooper Kenn Watson.

The offramp from I-275 to southbound I-75 remained shut down to allow emergency vehicles to get to the scene.

At 1:04 p.m., troopers were dispatched to the scene of the crash where a driver was reportedly trapped beneath the crane, according to Watson. Only one vehicle was involved.

Troopers arrived at 1:09 p.m. and the fatality was confirmed at 1:20 p.m.

According to a preliminary investigation, it appears a blown tire caused the vehicle to flip over.

A class C wrecker was brought in to remove the crane, which flipped on its side in the ditch about 125 feet down, Watson said.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Tampa man, 42, killed on southbound I-75 in Palmetto when tire blows on giant crane."