A tractor-trailer went up in flames after a horrific crash involving seven other vehicles on the Florida's Turnpike near Interstate 75, Thursday morning. This chaos on the roadway led to one person being taken to the hospital, and major traffic delays plagued the morning commute in Miami-Dade County, creating a headache for drivers trying to navigate the congestion.
The mayhem commenced when, according to reports by WSVN, a tractor-trailer driver lost control and collided with numerous other vehicles, finally smashing into the median barrier which caused the truck to overturn and catch fire. 7SkyForce captured aerial footage around 8:30 a.m., showing the aftermath of the wrecked 18-wheeler lying on its side with smoke billowing as emergency crews scrambled on the scene.
In a dizzying response to the emergency, firefighters were deployed and tackled the blaze. According to NBC Miami, despite the ferocity of the flames which fully engulfed the cab of the tractor-trailer, the fire was successfully extinguished. Rescue efforts had the northbound lanes of the Turnpike temporarily sealed off as a medical helicopter made a precarious landing to facilitate the hospital transport of the injured man, who was considered a trauma alert by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials.
Cleanup operations were underway, attempting to restore order to the disrupted lanes, as Miami-Dade Fire Rescue dealt with the smoldering remains of the tractor-trailer. Traffic was funneled to the I-75 exit, as the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike were barricaded by police, directing the flow away from the crash site. Commuters were advised to find alternatives as slow-moving traffic snaked through the compromised area. While injuries were reported, Florida Highway Patrol confirmed they were non-life threatening.
Details about the crash are still emerging, and motorists have been urged to steer clear of the area while the cleanup continues. For more information and updates on this developing story, refer to WSVN and NBC Miami.
