A fatal crash on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa has triggered an investigation by state troopers, with the wreck closing lanes at a major intersection during the early morning commute Friday. The crash happened at Hillsborough Avenue and Benjamin Road, a busy corridor in the heart of the county.
Troopers responded to the scene at 6 a.m. Friday, according to WFLA. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed it is investigating the fatal crash but has not released additional details about those involved or how the collision happened.
As of the station's report, northbound lanes of Benjamin Road at the Hillsborough Avenue intersection remained closed. It is unclear when those lanes reopened or how long the closure lasted, and the station's report did not specify a cause for the crash or identify anyone involved.
A Corridor With a History of Serious Crashes
Hillsborough Avenue has seen other serious incidents over the years. In October 2020, two Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a pedestrian-versus-vehicle crash on eastbound Hillsborough Avenue near George Road at about 3:56 a.m., according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office release. That incident took a grim turn when the responding deputies struck the body of the pedestrian, who had already been hit by a civilian driver and was still lying in the road. The sheriff's office said that, per its policy at the time, the Florida Highway Patrol investigated that incident as well.
It is not clear whether Friday's crash involved a pedestrian or shares any other circumstances with the 2020 incident near George Road. No details connecting the two events have been confirmed.
County Tracks Severe Crashes Along Major Roads
Hillsborough County maintains a Safety Dashboard that highlights fatal and severe-injury crashes, including those involving pedestrians and bicyclists, at and near intersections within a 250-foot influence area. According to the county's Safety Dashboard, the tool draws on data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the state's official custodian of crash records, and notes that the number of severe crashes and the number of people seriously injured or killed can differ since a single crash can affect multiple people. No crash-specific historical figures for the Hillsborough Avenue and Benjamin Road intersection were included in available reporting.
Details about the person killed Friday, the number of vehicles involved, and what led to the crash have not been released. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available from investigators.
