A motorist on Interstate 75 in Hillsborough County slammed on her vehicle's brakes and stopped, causing a crash, then drove off, blew a tire and overturned Thursday, troopers say.
- Melanie Zawacki of Michigan faces multiple charges
- FHP says she stopped on I-75, causing crash, then drove for 2 miles
- Troopers say alcohol was a factor in Zawacki's crashes
Melanie Zawacki, 27, of Cadillac, Michigan was driving a 2003 Pontiac Montana southbound at about 5:30 p.m. near the Waters exit when she stopped "for no apparent reason" in the outside center lane of I-75, a Florida Highway Patrol report said.
The driver of the vehicle behind her was unable to avoid Zawacki's vehicle and rear-ended it.
Zawacki continued southbound on I-75 for two more miles, troopers said, until the Montana's right rear tire blew out. It left the roadway, rotated and overturned, FHP said.
Zawacki and her 27-year-old passenger, also of Cadillac, were unhurt in the rear-end collision but sustained minor injuries in the second crash.
The occupants of the 2013 Dodge pickup that rear-ended Zawacki's Montana on I-75 — a 42-year-old man and a 13-year-old girl, both of Wesley Chapel — were unhurt.
All were wearing seat belts.
The FHP report said alcohol was a factor in Zawacki's crashes. She faces multiple charges.