A 20-year-old Ocala man died early Wednesday morning after his vehicle ran off Interstate 75 and crashed into a palm tree.
Tyler Eddy had been at the wheel of a 1993 Honda Civic at 3:07 a.m. which was northbound on I-75 in Alachua County when the crash occurred, according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Eddy was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where he died of injuries suffered in the crash.
A significant winter storm has been pushing through Central Florida. FHP is offering the following safety tips for motorists:Â
• Stay put. Avoid driving, if at all possible. The safest place to be is off the roads.
• Slow down. When roads are icy, vehicles don’t have the traction required to stop quickly.
• Stay alert. When the temperature is near freezing, the roadway may look wet when in fact ice is forming.
• Check tire inflation often. As temperatures drop, so can your tire pressure. Low tire pressure does not give tires better traction in icy conditions, it only makes them more vulnerable to damage.
• Remember that bridges and overpasses are more prone to freezing in these types of conditions and will ice over first. Proceed with caution when driving in these areas.
• Do not attempt to pass slower vehicles.
• Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
• Gently apply brakes and accelerate at a slow speed.
• Be patient and courteous. Driving in adverse weather conditions can be stressful.
