Internationally known musician died in I-75 crash that left three others critically injured

A fatal three-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 75 left eight injured and a former bass player for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra dead Friday afternoon.

At about 12:26 p.m., a tractor trailer crashed into a travel RV that was parked off to the side of the highway lane on I-75 mile marker 372, near Micanopy, said Lt. Patrick Riordan, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson.

The RV was carrying members of the New York City-based metal group Adrenaline Mob, according to an FHP release of the victims’ names. The band posted on their Twitter page that they were traveling to St. Petersburg for a performance.

 

 

Riordan said the RV pulled over because of a flat tire when the tractor trailer crashed into it. Shortly afterward, a van then crashed into one of the two vehicles.

The crash caused the RV to catch fire, Riordan said.

David Zablidowsky died on scene and was the only fatality, FHP said. Zablidowsky, 38, played bass guitar for Adrenaline Mob and formerly played with the notable progressive rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Three of the eight injured were transported immediately to UF Health Shands Hospital and were considered to be in critical condition, said UF Health spokesperson Rossana Passaniti.

 

Passaniti said hospital staff activated their mass casualty response plan after the multi-vehicle accident at about 1:24 p.m. and sent out public alerts, a plan UF Health staff use to respond to extreme conditions or events such as “multiple vehicle accidents, infrastructure breakdowns or severe weather conditions.”

Three others with non-critical injuries were transported to North Florida Regional Medical Center, and the other two injured requested not to be transported to a hospital, Riordan said.

Marion County Fire Rescue spokesperson James Lucas said southbound lanes were shut down shortly after the crash near the Micanopy exit.

It took the entire afternoon for FHP and fire personnel to clear debris from the crash and the RV fire, Riordan said.

“It pretty much burned to the ground,” he said, referring to the RV.