A crash involving multiple fatalities shut down all northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near the Martin County-St. Lucie County border late Saturday night. The wreck happened before Exit 114, just north of Martin Highway and about half a mile south of Becker Road, halting traffic in northern Martin County as emergency crews descended on the scene.
According to WPBF, the crash was reported at 11:07 p.m. Saturday and involved a tractor-trailer, per the Florida Highway Patrol website. The Martin County Sheriff's Office, Martin County Fire Rescue and Florida Highway Patrol all responded and remained on scene as investigators worked to clear the roadway.
Traffic Diverted as Delays Mount
With all northbound lanes blocked, traffic was being diverted off the interstate at the Martin Highway exit, the outlet's report noted. Motorists were urged to avoid the area, seek alternate routes and expect significant delays as crews worked through the night.
Details on what led to the crash, the number of people killed, or whether anyone involved was cited have not been released. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain unclear, and no additional information on the victims has been made public.
Pattern of Deadly I-95 Shutdowns in the Region
This is not the first time a serious crash has forced a lengthy shutdown of I-95 in Martin County. In September, a crash involving a box truck closed all northbound lanes in the county for roughly seven hours before they reopened, according to a separate WPBF report. Earlier this year, a fatal two-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer shut down I-95 near Scottsmoor in north Brevard County, as reported by Florida Today.
Similar deadly incidents have played out elsewhere along the interstate. A multi-vehicle crash near Lantana Road in Palm Beach County left one person dead and another hospitalized while shutting down four lanes of I-95, CBS12 reported. Farther north, a fatal crash shut down southbound I-95 in Volusia County, according to WESH.
No word yet on when the northbound lanes near the Martin-St. Lucie line reopened or on current traffic conditions in the area. Drivers planning to travel through northern Martin County should continue to monitor local advisories before heading out.
