Wednesday, February 18, 2015

SEMI RODE UP ONTO THE US-19 HIGHWAY'S CONSTRUCTION ZONE CENTER MEDIAN WALL AND CAUGHT FIRE. TRUCK DRIVER HAS BEEN CITED FOR CARELESS DRIVING







FEBRUARY 18, 2015

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

Southbound U.S. 19 in central Clearwater has been reopened after this morning's tractor-trailer crash and fire. One northbound lane has also been reopened.

Sometime before 6 a.m., a northbound semi rode up onto the highway's construction zone center median wall near Harn Boulevard and caught fire. The driver escaped without serious injury, and firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.

The crash closed both sides of the busy highway between Belleair Road and Drew Street just before the morning commute. Traffic was directed in both directions, and motorists who hadn't left home were advised to take an alternate route.

Officials opened the southbound lanes just before 10 a.m. It wasn't immediately known when the rest of the northbound lanes would reopen. Motorists heading north are advised to take the Bayside Bridge to the east or Belcher Road or Keene Road to the west.

The driver of the truck, identified as Mike Manuel Leon Rodriguez, 37, of Hialeah Gardens, has been cited for careless driving.