A fatal traffic incident late Saturday night resulted in the closure of Florida's Turnpike in both directions in SW Miami-Dade. NBC6 reported, based on information from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, that the crash left at least one person dead, a detail underscored by the presence of a body concealed by a yellow tarp.

The impact of the incident reverberated far beyond the crash site, as traffic was halted near 8th Street on the southbound lanes and close to Bird Road on the northbound side. Stuck in the traffic, the frustration of travelers was palpable, many of whom sought alternate routes or were left waiting for the roads to clear. The on-ramp at Exit 25: SW 8th Street/U.S. 41 was also closed, according to an update from a traffic monitoring service, which posted the information last night at 09:29 PM.

Updated: Crash in Miami-Dade County on Floridas Turnpike South, at Exit 25: SW 8th Street/U.S. 41. On-ramp closed, All lanes closed. Last updated at 09:29 PM. https://t.co/eYA5E6H9sW

— Florida's Turnpike (@fl511_turnpike) June 23, 2024

While the cause of the accident has not yet been disclosed, the Florida Highway Patrol was quick to respond to the situation by shutting down the affected sections of the Turnpike.  Inquiries into the crash persist, with details sparse as to what led up to the tragedy. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision, all while travelers caught in the aftermath of the disruption were cautiously detoured.