Michaela Mulligan
Tampa Bay Times
RUSKIN, Fla. — A man jumped from an Interstate 75 overpass into the Little Manatee River to avoid being struck by another vehicle after he was ejected from his own car in a crash Thursday night, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the three-car crash on southbound I-75 at the Little Manatee River overpass and learned that one of the vehicles had overturned and ejected the driver, according to a news release from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. After the crash, the ejected driver leaped over the concrete barrier and into the river to avoid being hit by another car, the release said.
The man landed in a deep part of the river and was able to swim back to the river bank. Rescue crews used personal watercraft to take him to an ambulance. He was transported to an area hospital and listed in stable condition, officials said.
One other person was taken to a local hospital from the crash and was also in stable condition.
Officials did not release any other information about the people involved in the crash.
Southbound I-75 was closed while first responders worked at the scene.
___
©2022 Tampa Bay Times