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Trooper, 3 others hurt in multitruck crash on I-4

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

The crash happened at 1:44 this morning at I-4 near McIntosh Road.

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TBO.com

Published: July 13, 2009

Updated: 07/13/2009 12:56 pm

Four people were seriously injured this morning in a crash on Interstate 4 that involved a tractor-trailer, an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol trooper and two construction vehicles.

The crash happened at 1:44 a.m. at I-4 near McIntosh Road near Dover.

Trooper Maurice Hensley, 45, of Tampa, was in his car with his emergency blue lights flashing to make sure motorists slowed down for road construction in the area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

His car was stationed between two construction trucks that both had flashing arrows, and the three vehicles were moving slowly in the center lane when a tractor-trailer struck the construction truck behind the trooper's car, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The impact sent the construction truck into the patrol car, which was pushed into the truck in front of it.

Hensley was seriously injured and taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment, according to the patrol. One of the construction truck drivers, 18-year-old Steven Cofield of Bradenton, was taken to Brandon Regional Hospital. The other construction truck driver, 43-year-old William Pettet of Valrico, was not taken to a hospital, according to the report.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, 45-year-old Jack Duran of Orlando, was taken to Tampa General Hospital. Authorities have not filed charges against him but say the investigation is continuing.

The crash shut down the westbound lanes of I-4 for four hours. Troopers reopened the lanes at 5:30 a.m.

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