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Driver in Florida falls asleep at wheel and kills 2 men changing tire, troopers say

TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) - Two men who were changing a tire on the side of a Florida interstate were killed when another driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit them, officials said.

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The men were killed Sunday on Interstate 275 in Tampa, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

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A 73-year-old man had pulled over onto the road’s shoulder after a left front tire blew out, troopers said in a report.

A 30-year-old friend of the man arrived a short time later to help him with the tire.

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The two men were on the driver’s side of the car when a car driven by a 36-year-old man swerved into them, the report said. Troopers said the man had fallen asleep while driving.

The younger man who was changing the tire died at the scene. The older man was taken to a hospital, where he later died, troopers said. A 69-year-old female passenger in the vehicle was not injured.

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The man who hit them was not injured in the crash, the report said.

An investigation is continuing.

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