One dead, traffic shut down on I-95 near Palm Bay J.D. Gallop, FLORIDA TODAY 3:03 p.m. EDT June 30, 2016
A crash involving a semi truck left one person dead and shut down traffic in both directions on I-95 between West Melbourne and Palm Bay.
(Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)
Florida Highway Patrol troopers shut down onramps today leading to Interstate 95 from West Melbourne and Palm Bay as rescue crews treated multiple patients following a crash involving a semitrailer and a box truck.
One person was killed and another possibly impaled by a metal rod in the cab of one of the vehicles. Southbound lanes of the interstate reopened at 10:35 a.m. while the northbound lanes remain shut down.
Delays are expected to remain through the afternoon as troopers investigate the crash and workers clean up debris.
The crash happened at 9:15 a.m. just north of the Palm Bay Road exit. Two semitrailers were involved, including one truck – a 1996 semi driven by 48-year-old Douglas Platt of Melbourne – that was hauling heavy equipment.
A fatal crash happened at 9:15 a.m. on Interstate 95 near mile marker 176, just north of the Minton Road overpass. Two tractor trailers were involved, including one truck that was hauling heavy equipment. Northbound lanes were shut down for hours as traffic was re-routed. MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY
"This crash occurred when a semi-truck hauling an excavator (road construction equipment), on a trailer, was traveling southbound on I-95, had a tire tread separation," Kim Montes, spokeswoman with the Florida Highway Patrol, said in an emailed statement. "The truck driver lost control of the semi and traveled through the guardrail."
An excavator came off the trailer and rolled into the northbound lanes, hitting a semitrailer in the process, Montes said. Debris scattered, striking at least one other car's windshield. The unidentified driver of the semitrailer, from Ormond Beach was killed in the crash.
Authorities initially said there were six patients but just one person, Platt, was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. There was also a diesel spill, although it was not immediately known how much of the fuel was involved.
A fatal crash involving two semitrailers as seen on Thursday, June 30, 2016 near Palm Bay. (Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)
Video stills taken from state surveillance cameras in the area show mangled wreckage and skid marks leading from one lane and into another.
Palm Bay Fire Rescue along with Brevard County Fire Rescue crews responded within minutes. Palm Bay police have also blocked off traffic at the northbound on ramp at Palm Bay Road.