Two people were killed and both directions of Florida’s Turnpike were shut down near Palm City on Monday after a pair of crashes that left drivers stuck on the highway for hours. Traffic through Martin County crawled or stopped altogether as emergency crews and investigators worked multiple crash scenes.
What officials say
According to WPBF 25 News, the first crash was reported shortly after 1:14 a.m. near mile marker 136. A Palm City man was later pronounced dead at Florida Coast Medical Center. WPBF reported that a 2018 Nissan Rogue collided with a semi-trailer and that Florida Highway Patrol troopers were handling the investigation.
Scene response
Martin County Fire Rescue and St. Lucie County crews responded to the crash scenes, and WPTV reported that at least one victim was flown out by air rescue and later died at a hospital. Tow trucks and state troopers stayed on scene for an extended period while investigators documented the wreckage and tried to piece together how the crashes unfolded.
Traffic snarls and closures
The crashes led to a full shutdown of the Turnpike through the Palm City stretch. Northbound lanes were closed from before mile marker 128 to before exit 133, and southbound lanes were shut from before mile marker 134 past exit 133. On-ramps at exits 116 and 133 were also blocked, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities in Martin County warned drivers to expect delays of two to three hours and to steer clear of the Turnpike if they could while crews cleared debris. WPBF 25 News reported that many drivers sat at a standstill as backups stretched into the afternoon.
A grim week on Treasure Coast roads
The Turnpike shutdown followed a deadly head-on crash on Allapattah Road over the weekend that killed two people, part of what authorities described to WPTV as a recent run of fatal collisions in Martin County. Local officials urged drivers to use extra caution on the roads as they continue working multiple active crash investigations this week.
Turnpike context and tips for drivers
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and state traffic feeds remain the go-to sources for real-time road conditions and detours when lanes are shut down. The Turnpike agency issues weekly advisories and encourages motorists to check FL511 and official alerts before heading out. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise posts lane-closure details and work-zone information for South Florida.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers are still investigating the crashes and have not yet released the names of those who died, pending notification of family members. Officials are asking anyone who may have video or information about the incidents to contact FHP or the Martin County Sheriff’s Office as the investigations continue.
