HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A serious injury crash occurred on northbound Interstate 75 near the 235 milepost, close to the Hillsborough/Manatee County line, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on February 9, 2026.
Northbound traffic was moving slowly due to an unrelated vehicle fire near the Sun City Center exit. A tractor-trailer, driven by 45-year-old Julio Dones Rosa of Citrus Springs, performed an illegal U-turn to travel southbound on I-75. The tractor-trailer entered the path of an oncoming Toyota Corolla, driven by a 28-year-old man from Parrish.
The Corolla struck the tractor-trailer, resulting in serious injuries to the sedan’s driver, who was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The tractor-trailer driver, Julio Dones Rosa, was not injured in the collision.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested Rosa at the scene for Reckless Driving Involving Serious Injury. He was subsequently delivered to the Hillsborough County Jail.
The crash remains under investigation. Nothing further at this time.
SOURCE: FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL
