RUSKIN, Fla. — Interstate 75 southbound lanes in Hillsborough County are finally back open.
A deadly pedestrian involved traffic accident shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday shut down I-75 SB lanes near the Ruskin/Sun City Center exit for more than 5 hours, forcing motorists to scrambled to find alternate southbound routes.
A woman standing next to two vehicles parked on the shoulder of I-75 SB attempted to cross the interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The pedestrian stepped into the path of a 2004 Hummer H2.
The woman, whose name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. died at the scene.
The Hummer driver, Maria Pillion, 49, of Parrish, suffered minor injuries.
State troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol arrived at the accident scene at I-75 and Mile Marker 240 shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol website. They reopened the interstate's southbound lanes at 10:16 a.m. Sunday.
