PORT ST. LUCIE — A 71-year-old man from Longwood died after a Jan. 16 crash on Interstate 95, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials.
He was driving a 2026 GMC Acadia SUV about 11:20 a.m. on northbound I-95 at mile marker 116 in Port St. Lucie when he drifted off the roadway to the left, entered the grass center median and hit a tree, according to FHP officials.
The crash was about halfway between the Southwest Becker Road exit and the Southwest Gatlin Boulevard/Tradition Parkway exit.
St. Lucie County Fire District crews went to the scene after they received a call from an OnStar activation about a vehicle collision, Division Chief Daniel Mikels told TCPalm. Multiple reports then came in from drivers passing by.
Crews arrived to find the man as the sole occupant in the vehicle, Mikels said. They activated a trauma alert and transported him in critical condition by ground to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
The man was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to FHP officials.
All northbound lanes at the scene were closed briefly after the crash. FHP continued to investigate the fatal crash.
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Driver dies after drifting off I-95 in Port St. Lucie and hitting tree
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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