Careless Driving In Hendry Closes SR80

Truck Driver Causes Major Tie-up in Hendry County

CLEWISTON, FL. -- A semi-truck caused a major tie-up Friday at State Road 80 and U.S. 27 in Hendry county. Traffic was diverted to other county roads while the investigation went on.

At 6:05 a.m. a 1995 semi, driven by Eduardo Peraza, 42 of Naples, and a 2002 Toyota pickup driven by 56 year old David Panno of Land of Lakes, Fl. were traveling south on US 27 in the outside lane, Peraza was directly behind Panno. 

A 2002 semi-truck was traveling south on US 27 in the inside lane alongside of the two other vehicles. A marked FHP patrol vehicle was stopped on US 27 near the west shoulder of US 27 performing a roadside traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding, with emergency equipment (red and blue lights) activated. 

As Panno's vehicle (a pickup truck towing a boat and trailer) was slowing for the marked patrol vehicle, Peraza failed to reduce speed to avoid striking the pickup truck. As a result, he struck the boat trailer causing the boat to be propelled into the guardrail on the west shoulder of US 27 and deflected into the back of the patrol vehicle. 

The pickup truck, as a result of being struck, was forced into a counterclockwise direction and traveled into the path of the second semi-truck driven by Pedro Femenias, 53 of Port St. Lucie. At that time, the semi struck the pickup in the front. 

All vehicles came to final rest near the point of collision. A fourth driver Mark Steele, 23 of Fort Myers was outside of his vehicle and alongside of the vehicle that had been stopped and was not injured. 

There were no injuries in this crash. Peraza was charged with careless driving.