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Wrong way driver injured after hitting fuel tanker on I-75 SB near Gibsonton Drive

Posted at 9:28 AM, Jun 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-17 10:13:55-04

Florida state troopers say a wrong way driver was injured early Saturday when he hit a fuel tanker on Interstate 75 south of Gibsonton Drive.

Rogelio Ramirez, 29, of Lakeland was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries, a Florida Highway Patrol report said. 

Shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday, a 2015 Hyundai Accent was seen driving northbound in the southbound lanes of I-75 south of Gibsonton Drive, the report said. 

The fuel tanker was traveling southbound and swerved in an attempt to avoid colliding with the Hyundai. However, the Hyundai hit the tanker's rear passenger side trailer. 

The truck driver, Omar Lloyd Carty, 42, of Brandon, was uninjured.

Ramirez, the Hyundai driver, was heavily impaired, the highway patrol report said.

Charges are pending.

All I-75 southbound lanes near Mile Marker 246 in Gibsonton were shut down for a couple of hours, but reopened before 7 a.m. Saturday.