Three people are dead — including two young children — following a devastating wrong-way crash on I-75 in Charlotte County Friday, March 27, 2026.
The crash occurred near mile marker 154, prompting Florida Highway Patrol to close the northbound lanes of I-75 between Tuckers Grade and Bayshore Road for several hours.
According to a press release issued by the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of a 2014 Jeep Wrangler — a 28-year-old man from Laurel, New York — was traveling southbound on I-75 when he abruptly veered across the median into oncoming northbound traffic. His vehicle collided head-on with a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Inside the Hyundai were a 25-year-old male driver and his two young sons, aged 5 and 6. All three were killed in the collision. One of the children was airlifted to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The driver of the Jeep Wrangler sustained serious injuries and was transported for medical treatment.
Wrong-way driving crashes remain one of the most deadly categories of highway incidents in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the state averages more than 300 wrong-way driving events annually on limited-access highways, with a fatality rate significantly higher than other crash types. The I-75 corridor through Charlotte and Lee Counties has seen multiple fatal wrong-way incidents in recent years, raising ongoing concerns among local safety advocates and transportation officials about nighttime signage, median barrier design, and driver impairment enforcement along the stretch.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
This is a developing story. NeuraNews will update this article as additional information becomes available.
