Former Marine killed in I-75 crash involving a semi-truck and 4 motorcyclists, FHP says

The Florida Highway Patrol has identified David James Boland, 56, of Englewood as the person who died in a crash on Interstate 75 that shut down the highway for hours.

Boland is a former U.S. Marine who served in the 1980s with the Second Amphibious Assault Battalion, according to public records.

The multi-vehicle crash involved a semi-truck and a pack of four motorcyclists, including Boland.

Troopers say Boland was riding his motorcycle in the southbound lanes on the Fruitville Road Overpass with the other motorcyclists around him. The semi-truck was approaching the pack of bikers when Boland lost control of his motorcycle.

Boland fell from the motorcycle and fell into the path of the semi, according to the crash report.

The other motorcyclists attempted to take evasive action and all ended up crashing.

Boland died on the highway. The other three motorcyclists were taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

FHP reports the incident as being an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the FHP at 239-938-1800 or *FHP on a cellphone.

The call first came into authorities around 8 p.m. Wednesday night and I-75 was shut down for hours. FHP did not announce the reopening of the highway until around 3 a.m. Thursday.

This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 6:41 AM.