PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A major deadly crash overnight shut down all northbound lanes of I-75 until 7 a.m. Sunday. 

  • One killed, one seriously injured in I-75 crash
  • 23-year-old driver lost control of vehicle, collided with guardrail
  • Driver exited vehicle to help entrapped passenger
  • Oncoming vehicle hit 23-year-old driver, causing fatal injuries

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 23-year-old driver lost control of his Toyota Tacoma on I-75, south of Blanton Road, around 2:15 a.m.  The Toyota traveled onto the outside shoulder, at which point the driver, Quinten Perez, over corrected back across all lanes of I-75 and collided with the center median guardrail. 

The collision caused the vehicle to overturn, landing across the inside and center lanes of the roadway. 

Troopers said Perez exited the vehicle to help his entrapped passenger, Weston Reynolds, 21. 

At that point, troopers said the driver of a Chevy Sonic traveling northbound on I-75 was unable to see the initial crash scene and collided with the Toyota, along with Perez. 

The collision caused the Toyota to be pushed into the center lane of I-75. 

The driver of the Toyota, Perez, who had been outside of the vehicle when he was hit by the Chevy suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, according to FHP. 

Perez's passenger, Reynolds, was airlifted to Bayonet Point with serious injuries. 

According to the report, the driver and passenger in the Chevy received only minor injuries.