A crash involving three tractor-trailers shut down Florida’s Turnpike for hours Wednesday leaving one person dead and one seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at 3:18 a.m. shutting down the southbound lanes just past mile marker 248 in Osceola County, according to an FHP crash report. Authorities shut the highway down detouring southbound traffic for more than 10 hours. FHP only reopened the highway after 2 p.m. when a single lane of traffic was allowed to travel south again.
The crash unfolded as a semi-tractor with a double trailer was following behind a Volvo semi-tractor trailer, which was behind a Freightliner also with a double trailer, all traveling in the outside lane.
Drivers of the Freightliner and Volvo were slowing down for traffic, but the driver of the semi in the rear failed to observe, according to FHP.
That truck crashed into the back of the Volvo, which in turn collided with the Freightliner at the head of the line of trucks.
The semi at the rear burst into flames, and that truck’s driver was pronounced dead on the scene.
First responders transported the Volvo driver to the Osceola Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.
The driver of the Freightliner wasn’t injured and remained on scene.
Florida Highway Patrol said the crash remains under investigation.