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.