Florida truck driver dies in accident near Philip

South Dakota Department of Public Safety

PHILIP – A 25-year-old Florida man died early Wednesday morning when his semi-trailer collided with another semi-trailer in a two-vehicle crash 34 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of Philip.

The names of the people involved have not been released pending notification of family members.

Preliminary crash information indicates that the 59-year-old driver of a 2001 Freightliner was parked in the travel lane near mile marker 128 on State Highway 34 in Haakon County with his hazard lights on. The driver of a 1996 Freightliner traveling in the same direction struck the rear of the parked tractor-trailer.

The driver of the 2001 Freightliner was moving in the cab during the collision and suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

A 51-year-old passenger was outside the vehicle at the time and was uninjured. The driver of the 1996 Freightliner suffered fatal injuries.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. All information released so far is preliminary.