Three Belleview residents were among those involved in a five-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Interstate 75 in Alachua County.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the five-vehicle crash at 9:01 a.m. on northbound I-75 near the 390 Mile Marker. Traffic congestion began to build during the morning rush hour and the exit ramp to NW 39th Avenue became backed-up into the outside travel lane of I-75, the FHP report said.
A 2015 Dodge Journey driven by Joseph M. Dougherty Jr., 38, of Belleview, came to a stop with traffic stopped in front of him. Dougherty’s vehicle was rear-ended by a 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo driven by 18-year-old Derek Bain of Gainesville.
The collision set off a chain reaction, pushing Dougherty’s vehicle into a 2010 Nissan Sentra driven by Melissa A. Schwarz, 18, of Gainesville. The chain reaction collision also involved a 2011 Nissan Altima driven by James M. Bridges, 26, of Gainesville, and a 2006 Honda Accord driven by Britnie M. Trecastro, 18, of Dade City.
Dougherty suffered minor injuries and was transported to UF Health. A passenger in his vehicle, 32-year-old Tara J. Bleau of Belleview, also suffered minor injuries and was transported to UF Health. A 2-year-old in the vehicle, Philip H. Bleau, escaped injury.
Bain was ticketed on a charge of careless driving.
The right travel lane of northbound I- 75 was closed for clean-up and vehicle removal for approximately 45 minutes.
