WOMAN KILLED IN SARASOTA COUNTY ACCIDENT

A FORT MYERS WOMAN DIED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE IN NORTH PORT ON WEDNESDAY.  THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS 77 YEAR OLD KAREN HAY WAS SOUTHBOUND ON I-75 NEAR MILE MARKER 180 JUST BEFORE 2PM WHEN HER TOYOTA CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND ENTERED THE NORTHBOUND LANES AND INTO THE PATH OF A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS DRIVEN BY 38 YEAR OLD RAMIRO VIDAL OF SARASOTA.  VIDAL TRIED TO SWERVE TOWARD THE SHOULDER TO AVOID THE COLLISION, BUT HAY WENT HEAD-ON INTO HIS TRAILER.  HAY WAS BAYFLITED TO BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG WHERE SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD A SHORT TIME LATER.  THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF THE INTERSTATE WERE CLOSED FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS WHILE TROOPERS INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT.