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A crash on southbound I-75 just south of Colonial Boulevard left one person dead Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the deceased as Thomas Raymond Johnson, 51, of Fort Myers.
The FHP said Johnson was driving a white SUV when he attempted to change lanes and clipped the rear of a trailer being towed by another truck.
The impact caused the SUV to veer off the roadway, drive over an embankment, go airborne and crash into several trees on the side of the road, according to trooper Richard Verbiest.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt.
The SUV, which ended up on its side in the woods, was torn to shreds and was mangled to the point where crews had to pry off the driver-side door to get the body out.
The driver of the other truck was not injured.
Friday’s traffic fatality was the 43rd in Lee County this year. There were 44 at this time last year and 75 total in 2011.
