A 63-year-old man was killed Saturday night in an Interstate 75 crash after a series of events that started with a DUI stop and investigation.
The crash happened in Sarasota County on I-75 near River Road just before 9 p.m. as a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was transporting the man to perform a DUI test.
Officials said the incident started when Trooper Joseph Angelicchi arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-75 at River Road. The crashed vehicle was stopped against a guard rail facing south near the northbound lanes.
According to officials, a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office vehicle, with emergency lights on, had blocked the northbound inside lane of I-75.
Investigating the crash as a possible DUI, Trooper Angelicchi placed Michael Stephen Thorne in the back of his cruiser and attempted to move to another location to conduct a field sobriety test.
As he pulled back out on to the highway, his cruiser was struck by a car hauler traveling north on I-75. The front of the hauler struck the rear of the cruiser.
The cruiser came to rest within the inside paved median. Thorne, of North Port, was pronounced dead at the scene. Trooper Angelicchi was taken to Venice Regional Bayfront Health in serious condition.
The driver of the hauler, Jorge Charry of Tampa, was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.