Parts of Interstates 75 and 275 were closed in the Bay area Thursday morning due to a border patrol agent traffic stop and a faux bomb threat. 

  • Border Patrol agent stops van on I-75 in Pasco County, 5 people run off
  • One person running from the van was struck by a vehicle
  • In an unrelated incident, a person on I-275 near the Howard Frankland claimed to have a bomb

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the unrelated events started just after 10 a.m. on I-75 near mile marker 277 in Wesley Chapel. 

The US Border Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a minivan traveling southbound.  

Troopers said once the minivan stopped, five people got out and ran off. 

"As soon as the van stopped, all the doors came open and everyone went everywhere," said driver Alycia Adkins, who witnessed the encounter from her car. "It was almost as if the van had a bomb in it or something. They just took off running."

Adkins said she accidentally struck one of those individuals fleeing from the Border Patrol with her Ford Mustang as they ran across the interstate. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, that individual, believed to be 16 or 17 years old, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to St. Joseph’s in Tampa.  

Adkins said she was worried the teen was going to die.

"I'm holding the guy's hand with the officer and I'm like look, 'just stay with us, stay with us,'" said Adkins. "Every time he would like go out of consciousness, I had to walk away because I can't see a dead body."

The others ran into the woods adjacent to the interstate. The incident closed the southbound lanes of the interstate for over an hour.  

Troopers, Pasco County deputies and Border Patrol officers are still searching for the people that ran off.

Florida Highway Patrol Troopers said one person ran across the interstate and was struck by this Ford Mustang, driven by Alycia Adkins as she was traveling southbound. That person sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to St. Joseph’s in Tampa. (Josh Rojas, staff) 

Stretch of I-275 closed in unrelated incident

The second event happened just before 10:30 on the northbound shoulder of I-275 near the Howard Frankland Bridge. 

Troopers said a Road Ranger stopped to check on what he believed was a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the road. 

He discovered what he described as a mentally unstable driver who indicated he was being followed and that he had a bomb within his vehicle.  

The interstate was temporarily closed until the scene was cleared and it was determined there was no bomb.  

The driver was transported for evaluation and Baker Act. 

Both incidents remain under investigation.