Eastbound Interstate 4 is shut down at this hour, while tow trucks are removing vehicles involved in a crash this morning.
According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, a 2001 Ford van, driven by Ricardo Silva, 30, of Tampa, was traveling at about 10:30 a.m. this morning, eastbound on I-4 in the outside lane east of State Road 39, in Plant City. A 2011 Toyota Corolla, driven by Maria Reyes, 57, of Riverview, also was traveling eastbound in the outside lane, when Silva’s driver’s side rear tire blew out.
His van began to travel in a northeasterly direction. Silva attempted to regain control, but the van collided with the concrete barrier wall on the paved outside shoulder. The van then overturned and rotated in a clockwise direction until coming to final rest on its roof, facing north blocking the eastbound outside lane and paved shoulder. Reyes’ vehicle ran over a bucket of pink paint that was ejected from the van. The bucket damaged the passenger’s side and undercarriage of the vehicle.
A passenger in Silva’s van, Antonio Braga, 35, of Tampa, was taken to Tampa General Hospital.