SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. -- A tragic multi-vehicle early morning crash on Interstate 75 in North Port has left three people dead, including two from Fort Myers.
Troopers say 23-year-old Nathaniel Perkins and 22-year-old Johneisha Gadson, both of Fort Myers, were thrown from their SUV in the crash Sunday morning.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, around 5:15 a.m., Perkins was driving southbound about 2 miles south on the Toledo Blade Boulevard exit. As they approached a tractor trailer vehicle hauler that was stopped on the shoulder with mechanical issues, their SUV veered onto the shoulder and hit the truck.
A third vehicle subsequently crashed into the SUV immediately after the crash.
The truck's driver, who had exited the vehicle, was also hit by the SUV and died at the scene. He has been identified as 51-year-old Eric Shawback from Haines City.
Perkins and Gadson were both ejected from the SUV and died at the scene. A third person in the SUV, 23-year-old Sharnice Brown, was seriously injured and taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
The three occupants of the other car suffered only minor injuries.
FHP confirmed several secondary crashes immediately following the crash occurred.
The entire incident is still being investigated.
