FHP: Four-car crash in Palmetto injures 3; truck downs power lines

The Florida Highway Patrol responded to two incidents Thursday afternoon in Palmetto, including a four-vehicle crash and a power-line problem.

The crash took place near the intersection of U.S. 41 N. and 21st Street East. The North River Fire District and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office also responded.

“The incident involving the four vehicles is just a simple rear-end crash,” said FHP trooper Charles Tyus from the scene.

Tyus said the investigation is ongoing. Three people were transported to the hospital, though Tyus said no serious injuries were reported.

Tyus was unable to confirm whether a semi-truck farther down the road on U.S. 41 caused power lines to come down, though witnesses said it did.

“The semi is, I believe, related to a separate incident with the power line that was before this crash,” Tyus said.

Jacqueline Anderson, 48, stood on the sidewalk along U.S. 41, staring at two cars damaged in the four-vehicle crash.

“I was looking at TV and my cable just went bloop,” she said. “I said ‘Honey, you paid the cable bill?’ He said ‘Yeah.’”

That’s when Anderson found out there had been accident.

“I got in my car to come see,” the Palmetto resident said, adding she heard the semi-truck knocked the power lines down.

Power lines strewn across U.S. 41 were later removed.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 8:04 PM with the headline "FHP: Four-car crash in Palmetto injures 3; truck downs power lines."