One person has died in a crash that closed County Road 39 at State Road 674 for hours today, authorities said.
The accident happened at 10:11 a.m., about three miles south of S.R. 674 in Fort Lonesome, as a crane was driven across C.R. 39 onto property owned by Mosaic Fertilizer.
The crane driver, Jerry Gibson, 58, of Bowling Green, pulled into the path of a 2000 International tractor-trailer being driven north on C.R. 39 by Julio Combina, 50, of Riverview.
The crane hit the front of the semi, causing extensive damage. Combina was pronounced dead at the scene. Gibson was transported to South Bay Hospital with injuries that weren't life-threatening.
There were no passengers, said Cpl. Mike Cherup of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Officials say C.R. 39 has been reopened.
The Rough Terrain crane was rented by Sims Crane to Mosaic.
An investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.
Spokesman David Townsend called the accident a "terrible tragedy" and that Gibson has been released from the hospital.
It is not known when he is going back to work, the spokesman said. "In situation like this, we will be sensitive to his personal situation with regard to how he is feeling after the accident."
Stay with TBO.com for developments.
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