CLEARWATER, FL – Clearwater Police believe a pickup truck driver was speeding and impaired when he collided with a semi-truck, leading to his passenger’s death on Sunday.
WFLA said this collision happened before 1:45 a.m. on Gulf Boulevard. As the semi-truck driver put their truck in reserve to enter the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel driveway, that’s when the pickup truck driver hit the big rig and suddenly became trapped underneath.
Fire Rescue then extricated the driver and passenger from the pickup truck as it got trapped under the tractor-trailer.
First responders pronounced the pickup truck driver dead at the scene. They identified him as 41-year-old Mark Harris from Valrico.
An ambulance then took the pickup truck driver to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. He was identified as 36-year-old Michael Jones.
As it stands, Jones is in critical condition. Officers did not mention any charges against him at this time.
New details will be provided as our newsroom comes to learn more.
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