Two separate Interstate 275 crashes in Tampa closed the roadway early Friday.
An injury accident closed the northbound lanes of I-275 near Bears Avenue just after 1 a.m.
About two hours later, an alleged drunk driver crashed into a construction area and hit a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser on southbound I-275 at Busch Boulevard. The roadway was closed and traffic was guided off at the Busch ramp.
According to authorities, Christopher J. Cayer, 28, of Wesley Chapel was driving northbound on I-275 about 1:10 a.m. when he tried to pass a pickup truck driven by Shane M. Stevens, 57, of Land O' Lakes near milepost 58, about five miles north of Bearss Avenue.
Cayer struck the back of Stevens' truck and overturned, and Cayer was thrown into the road. Stevens' truck rotated into the median. Cayer's car was then struck by a semi truck driven by Patricia L. Pawlowski, 60, of Jacksonville. The car and semi came to rest across several lanes of northbound I-275.
Cayer was taken to Tampa General. His condition was not released.
Meanwhile, Freddie Massie III, 28, was charged with DUI, DUI property damage and violation of construction zone devices after slamming into the construction work area near Busch Blvd. and hitting a FHP cruiser.
The 31-year-old trooper suffered only minor injuries.
All of the lanes were reopened before 7 a.m.