On April 4, 2019, at 2:21 PM, a helicopter with two occupants suffered engine failure and crashed onto 50th Street at Palm River Road in Hillsborough County, Florida. A Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was traveling northbound on 50th Street approaching Palm River Road and was struck by one of the turning rotor blades of the helicopter. A passenger within the truck suffered fatal injuries as a result of the incident. No other injuries are currently reported. All lanes of 50th Street and Palm River Road are closed at this time as Troopers investigate the incident. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Road Closures: SR-60 and 50th Street, 50th Street and all exits to SR-618, 50th Street and 12th Avenue South, and Palm River Road and 51st Street. Motorists are asked to avoid the area for the next 6-12 hours – seek other routes.