Sarasota County (I-75 SB near Mile Marker 202, near Venice) - February 18, 2026

The Florida Highway Patrol reported a fatal crash around 8:55 a.m. on February 18, 2026, on Interstate 75 southbound near Mile Marker 202 in Sarasota County, described as about three miles south of Clark Road at Exit 205. According to FHP, a tractor-trailer was traveling south in the right lane as it approached the area. Troopers reported that a pedestrian had a vehicle parked on the paved shoulder and was standing next to it, then stepped into the path of the tractor-trailer and was struck. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, and FHP's Traffic Homicide Unit continued the investigation.

The stretch of I-75 south of Clark Road carries interstate-speed traffic past Sarasota, Osprey, Nokomis, and Venice. A paved shoulder offers very little protection next to travel lanes moving at 70 miles per hour, and safety agencies have documented the risk to anyone standing outside a stopped vehicle on an interstate shoulder for years: full-speed passing traffic, narrow margins, and almost no reaction time for anyone involved.

If a breakdown ever forces you to stop on I-75, general safety guidance is consistent. Pull as far from the travel lanes as the shoulder allows, stay inside the vehicle with seat belts fastened when it is safe to do so, use hazard lights, and call for roadside assistance or dial *347 for FHP rather than standing near traffic.

FHP assigns its Traffic Homicide Unit to crashes involving a death. These investigations are slower and far more detailed than an ordinary crash report. Investigators map the scene, inspect the vehicles, review any available electronic data and camera footage, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the sequence of events. Final reports often take weeks or months, and their findings shape everything that follows, from charging decisions to any civil claim.

Florida's Act gives a family a civil path that is separate from any criminal or traffic outcome. A claim is brought by the personal representative of the estate on behalf of statutory survivors, typically a spouse, children, or parents, and most claims must be filed within two years. Crashes involving commercial vehicles can add further layers, including federal motor carrier regulations and the carrier's insurance coverage. Whether a civil claim exists after any particular crash depends entirely on what the investigation shows about how it happened.

David Harris Law represents Sarasota County families after serious and fatal traffic crashes. If your family has lost someone in a highway crash and you have questions about the investigation or your options, a free, confidential consultation is available at 941-499-1400.