TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A crash involving a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle that caused injuries and backups on Interstate 75 in Tampa has been resolved.
Wilfredo Cordova Diaz, 35, of Ruskin was identified as the driver of the 2009 BMW sport utility vehicle involved in the crash with two FHP troopers. Diaz allegedly was driving on a suspended license while dodging a traffic stop.
At 3:17 p.m., troopers attempted the traffic stop of the driver for following too closely on Interstate 4 near Thonotosassa Road and having window tint that was darker than legally allowed, according to FHP. He allegedly fled westbound on I-4 and traveled northbound on I-75.
Diaz allegedly was driving away from troopers at speeds more than 120 mph.
When the driver approached south of Fletcher Avenue, he abruptly slowed down and entered the grassy median to attempt to U-turn.
As FHP officials tried to enter the median, a K-9 unit in a Chevy Tahoe couldn’t slow down adequately on the grass and crashed into another K-9 unit in a Ford Explorer.
The Tahoe spun around on the shoulder of I-75 and the Explorer overturned into the median.
The troopers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. The K-9s suffered minor injuries and were taken to a veterinarian where they were treated and released.
The crash had slowed traffic on both southbound and northbound lanes of I-75 but the roadway cleared at 6:11 p.m.
Troopers also found more than $9,000 inside of the SUV, as well as one kilogram of cocaine.
According to the FHP, Diaz was taken to Hillsborough County Jail on charges including fleeing and eluding, driving on a suspended license as a habitual traffic offender and several drug-related charges.
