An 84-year-old man on a tractor was struck and killed by a semi-trailer truck Monday afternoon in Hillsborough County.
James B. Simmons, 84, of Valrico was riding his farm tractor westbound on State Road 674 east of Owens Lake Road partially in the westbound travel lane and partially along the outside shoulder while a semi-trailer truck driven by Tommy Mars, 57, of Lake Alfred was traveling westbound on SR-674 east of Owens Lake Road, according to a Florida Highway Patrol accident report. Mars failed to see Simmons and the front right of his truck collided with the rear of the tractor, causing Mars to depart from the roadway and collide with a tree line on the south shoulder, the report stated.
Simmons died at the scene of the crash and Mars was taken to South Bay Hospital for minor injuries. Charges are pending.