FHP: No ticket likely after 2-vehicle crash with injuries

MANATEE -- Two vehicles were involved at 2:03 p.m. Wednesday in a rollover crash with injuries on Interstate 275 northbound just before the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP troopers arrived at 2:25 p.m., according to the FHP website. The vehicles, a white four-door vehicle and a Volvo, were found along the ditch yards apart.

The driver of the white vehicle was placed in an ambulance truck by North River firefighters and EMS paramedics. His head was bloodied and red shirt had been ripped open. He lay still as he spoke to the firefighters who placed a pale pink blanket on him.

According to FHP trooper Lawrence Donohue on scene, the Volvo was in the right lane when the white vehicle in the left lane tried to change lanes into the right and made contact. Both vehicles went off the right shoulder into a ditch.

Donohue said it doesn't appear there will be any criminal charges although the investigation is ongoing.

North River Fire Battalion Chief Cole Miller on the scene said there was a patient in each vehicle.

"In the vehicle that was overturned, the patient was entrapped so the crews worked on extricating the patient," he said. "The second medic unit came to assist with patient care on the second driver of the vehicle."

Miller said five North River firefighters were dispatched to the scene along with two EMS units and a Manatee EMS District Chief.

Tom Parks, 31, said he was driving back to his home in Clearwater after visiting Bayside Community Church. He said he didn't see the crash happen, but stopped anyway.

"None of the responders were here yet, so I was a little worried because it looked like a pretty bad wreck," he said. "I wanted to stop to see if there was anyway I can help or pray with the people that were in the accident."

By the time Parks reached the white vehicle, he said it was surrounded by the first responders.

"The driver of the Volvo was in pretty good shape. He looked like he was a little shaken up, but no blood or anything," he said. "Luckily, the fence and the trees stopped him from going into the water."

The female passenger of the white vehicle declined to share her name with the Herald, but said she was on her way to a funeral when the crash occurred.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 6:15 PM with the headline " FHP: No ticket likely after 2-vehicle crash with injuries ."