A tragic pedestrian crash on Interstate 75 in Sarasota claimed the life of a 64-year-old man Wednesday morning after he was struck by a tractor-trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The fatal collision caused major delays on I-75 south for several hours as authorities investigated the scene.
Troopers say the crash occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on February 18, 2026, just south of the Clark Road exit on I-75 in Sarasota County.
According to investigators:
A 64-year-old Sarasota man had parked his vehicle on the paved shoulder of the interstate
He was standing next to his vehicle along the shoulder
A tractor-trailer driven by a 56-year-old man was traveling southbound in the right lane
The pedestrian stepped into the roadway and into the path of the oncoming tractor-trailer
The front right corner of the truck struck the man
Emergency responders pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene.
Two southbound lanes of I-75 were closed for several hours following the crash before reopening later in the day. The incident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pedestrian crashes on highways and interstates are often fatal due to high speeds and limited reaction time. Unlike city streets, interstate highways are not designed for pedestrian activity, making any roadway entry extremely dangerous.
Common factors in interstate pedestrian fatalities include:
Disabled vehicles requiring roadside stops
Limited visibility for approaching drivers
High travel speeds
Reduced lighting during early morning or nighttime hours Driver reaction time constraints Even when drivers take evasive action, collisions at highway speeds can be unavoidable.