One person was killed early Thursday when a flatbed cargo truck crashed on Interstate 75 in north Tampa.

  • Fatal crash happened on I-75 near I-75, I-275 apex in Lutz area of northern Hillsborough County
  • One person killed, one person hurt
  • Highway was closed for multiple hours, thwarting traffic and creating heavy delays

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened at the I-75 apex with Interstate 275 just before 5 a.m.

Troopers said 43-year-old Paul Duarte Braga of St. Petersburg was killed when the truck went off the highway from the center lane of southbound I-75. The truck hit a guard rail, ejecting Braga from the vehicle.

The passenger in the truck, 21-year-old Sonia Michele Braga, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The southbound and northbound lanes of the highway were closed until about 7 a.m.

The crash remains under investigation.