A multi-vehicle crash shut down every westbound lane of Interstate 4 at Lakeland’s Exit 38 last evening, sending two people to the hospital with critical injuries. The closure created an immediate traffic headache for drivers heading toward Tampa, with westbound vehicles forced off the interstate.
The Florida Department of Transportation said the crash occurred at Exit 38, and all westbound traffic was being diverted from the highway, according to Tampa Bay 28. The initial report did not identify those involved or provide an estimated time for the lanes to reopen.
Exit 38 Closure Sends Drivers Onto Local Roads
Exit 38 connects I-4 with State Road 33, also known as Lakeland Hills Boulevard, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Drivers approaching the crash zone should expect delays as traffic is redirected through the Lakeland area while emergency crews and investigators work at the scene.
The state’s FL511 traffic system provides live information on crashes, lane closures and changing travel conditions. Officials had not released additional details about what caused the collision or when westbound I-4 would fully reopen in the initial alert.
