WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA — Two Georgia women escaped with minor injuries Saturday morning after the rear trailer of an oversized tractor-trailer combination broke loose on northbound Interstate 75 and rode over the top of their Subaru Forester, crushing the vehicle and blocking all northbound lanes for nearly two hours.

Florida Highway Patrol said the crash occurred at approximately 9:52 a.m. near Milepost 280. A 36-year-old Kansas man was driving a tractor-trailer consisting of two oversized hauler trailers northbound in the outside lane. A 23-year-old Georgia woman and her 22-year-old female passenger were traveling northbound in a Subaru Forester in the center lane.

A 70-year-old man from Havana, Florida, was operating a Dodge Ram 2500 helper vehicle for the semi. Near Milepost 280, the helper vehicle driver unlocked the rear trailer to assist with a lane change. The action released the back of the trailer, which swung left and struck the Subaru. The trailer — an empty evaporator tank — then rode over the top of the Subaru before both vehicles ground to a halt, completely blocking all northbound lanes.

Emergency crews transported both women to a nearby hospital. Their injuries were minor. The northbound lanes were cleared and reopened at approximately 11:40 a.m.

FHP has not announced whether the helper vehicle driver will face charges for unlocking the trailer during the lane change. The investigation is ongoing.

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