3 die, one seriously hurt in Interstate 75 crash in Manatee

MANATEE -- Three people were killed and one seriously injured when a tow truck improperly switched lanes on Interstate 75, causing a car to overturn, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A tow truck driven by a 53-year-old St. Petersburg man was northbound in the center lane of I-75 between the University Parkway and State Road 70 exits at 9:06 p.m. Thursday, according to the release.

A Chevy Traverse driven by a 67-year-old Bradenton woman with three passengers was northbound in the outside lane.

The tow truck moved into the outside lane from the center lane, striking the Traverse's left side, troopers said. The Traverse began to rotate, moved into the east shoulder of the highway and overturned.

Driver Diane Kiffner, 67; and passengers Leonard May, 68;

and Lana May, 65, were pronounced dead on scene.

A third passenger, a 69-year-old Bradenton man, was taken to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton in serious condition.

The passengers were from Twinsburg, Ohio.

The tow truck struck a tree and a fence on the shoulder but the driver suffered only minor injuries.

FHP reports charges pending blood-alcohol test results.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 11:33 PM with the headline "3 die, one seriously hurt in Interstate 75 crash in Manatee ."