Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT INVOLVING A TRACTOR TRAILER AND AT LEAST SIX VEHICLES ON THE TURNPIKE, WEDNESDAY, WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL BARREL FALLING OFF A PICKUP TRUCK; 2 HOSPITALIZED





APRIL 1, 2015

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN)

According to Florida Highway Patrol crash scene investigators, a rollover accident involving a tractor trailer and at least six vehicles on the Turnpike, Wednesday, was the result of dangerous road debris.

At around 8 a.m., an 18-wheeler was traveling northbound when it appears to have lost control, crossed over the median and into oncoming traffic on the southbound lanes. The truck landed on its side, partially on top of one vehicle. Another vehicle T-boned the truck.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers responded. After an investigation, they determined someone driving a pickup truck lost their load, which caused the chain reaction crash that had the highway shutdown for hours. "A pickup truck was traveling northbound on the Turnpike with an unsecured load," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Sanchez. "It had a wheel barrel, and that wheel barrel came off the truck. That's what caused this whole havoc out here."

The truck also hit a van head-on, leaving a woman trapped inside. Rescue crews successfully cut her out with the Jaws of Life, and transported her to Kendall Regional Medical Center in critical condition. One other person had to be transported to the hospital as well.

Southbound traffic was shut down at Southwest Eighth Street for several hours as clean up crews began to clear the debris. All lanes were reopened just before 12 p.m.

Police are now on the lookout for the the pickup truck that caused this mess. "We have cameras out here on the Turnpike," said Sanchez. "Anytime you pass a toll, it takes a picture of your car or your truck. Clearly, we're going to look at all those pictures, determine which vehicle came across, and if there is a pickup truck with a wheel barrel, and we do have a picture of the tag, I think the investigation is gonna lead us possibly to an arrest."

Crews are still working on fixing the guard rails along Southwest Eighth Street on the Turnpike. The investigation is ongoing.