FEBRUARY 18, 2015
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
A chain-reaction crash closes southbound and northbound
lanes on Interstate 95 near the Emerson exit early Wednesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the crash around
1:40 a.m.
FHP said there were no major injuries associated with the
crash which closed all but one southbound and northbound lane. The southbound
lanes opened at 4:30 a.m. However, the northbound lanes are expected to remain
closed through 8 a.m.
Action News traffic reporter Derrick Odom said take US-1 NB
as alternate route as it caused an 8-mile backup during the morning
commute.
The crash was caused when a yellow box truck traveling north
hit a Mercury Grand Marquis that was disabled on the left shoulder. FHP said
the truck then hit the concrete barrier wall and knocked down two light poles.
One light pole fell onto the northbound lanes and the other onto the southbound lanes.
A car traveling south tried to avoid the light pole and was
hit by a tractor-trailer, said FHP.
FHP said a tractor-trailer ran over the light pole in the northbound
lanes, which punctured the fuel tanks. Two other vehicles hit the light pole in
the southbound lanes.
The Department of Environmental Protection arrived to the
scene too as there was a potential hazmat situation as diesel fuel spilled on
the road. The northbound lanes are expected to remain closed as the Florida
Department of Transportation crews cleaned up the fuel.