Gridlocked traffic on the Palmetto Expressway at Northwest 67th Street after a deadly crash on the southbound lanes Friday morning shut down the roadway.
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A driver whose pickup truck hit a barrier wall on the Palmetto and then crashed into oncoming traffic died by suicide on the highway, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Friday morning’s crash shut down the southbound lanes of State Road 826 near Doral for about seven hours.
8:05am Update The Palmetto Expy remains SHUTDOWN Southbound btwn 58th & 36th St due to a confirmed fatal crash. Road remains closed. Stuck traffic is being turned around to NW 58th St. Major Delays. pic.twitter.com/uEmeoPjDnz
— Total Traffic Miami (@TotalTrafficMIA) April 17, 2026
Deputies say they found a gun at the scene.
“Detectives are confident that this case was a suicide by the driver of the pickup truck,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Investigators say they have not determined yet whether the man shot himself before the crash or whether he died in the impact with the wall or the collision with another car.
MORE: Palmetto reopens after long shutdown from deadly crash
A driver in the car hit by the out-of-control pickup truck was injured and taken to the hospital. The identity of the man who died in the pickup truck hasn’t been released.
If you or someone you know is thinking about self harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. It’s available 24/7.
Miami Herald
Milena Malaver covers crime and breaking news for the Miami Herald. She was born and raised in Miami-Dade and is a graduate of Florida International University. She joined the Herald shortly after graduating.