A 21-year-old woman from Ruskin died Tuesday evening after her car slammed into the back of a semi-truck on U.S. 41 in Bradenton, near Scale Avenue. The crash briefly shut down lanes as first responders rushed to the scene, where officials said the driver was pronounced dead.
According to Tampa Bay 28, the Florida Highway Patrol reported that the woman was heading north in the right lane when her car hit the rear of the semi’s trailer. Troopers told the station the truck had slowed for a railroad crossing, and another vehicle suddenly changed lanes to avoid stopping, but the woman’s vehicle did not slow down in time.
Where It Happened and Local Context
U.S. 41 is a heavily traveled north–south route through Bradenton and has seen multiple serious crashes in recent years. Local reporting on traffic along the corridor has repeatedly pointed to congestion and at-grade railroad crossings as ongoing trouble spots, according to the Bradenton Herald.
At the Scene
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the semi’s driver, a 53-year-old man from Bradenton, was not injured, the Florida Highway Patrol told Tampa Bay 28. Troopers said they have not released the names of those involved and that the crash is still under active investigation.
Investigation
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the collision. As of Wednesday, officials had not released any additional information about the circumstances of the crash.
