ST. PETERSBURG - One tractor trailer clipped another in the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 this afternoon, and then turned over, losing its load of sand, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
No serious injuries were reported in the 12:50 p.m. wreck.

However, all but one of the southbound lanes remained closed as of 2:50 p.m. today, as crews worked to set upright the tractor trailer that had turned over, remove the sand, and clean up the hydraulic fluids and fuel that had spilled.

According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins, a 1996 Mack tractor trailer driven by Joseph G. King, 31, of Port Richey, failed to slow with traffic just south of 54th Avenue North.

King apparently swerved to avoid a 2007 Freightliner in front of him, but his tractor trailer struck it anyway, Coggins said. King’s Mack tractor trailer then entered the median, struck a guardrail and turned over, losing its load of sand.

King was transported to Bayfront Medical Center with minor injuries, Coggins said. He was cited for careless driving.

Adrian Phillippe,  41, of Brandon, who was driving the Freightliner, was not injured, Coggins said.

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