Truck Accidents 360 Newswire

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – A semi tanker truck overturned Sunday afternoon, May 16, 2010, shutting down sections of several Florida highways for hours and interrupting service on the Tri-Rail commuter rail line. The truck accident occurred on Interstate 95 near Miami Gardens in Dade County, FL in the traffic area of networked roads and ramps often referred to as the Spaghetti Bowl. The accident area is in the far southeast side of the state, north of the Miami metro region, 110 miles east of Naples, FL and 57 miles south of West Palm Beach, FL.

At around 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon a truck driver was driving a tanker truck filled with fuel oil south on Interstate 95 in Dade County, Florida. When the driver approached the area near the Golden Glades Interchange he moved to merge onto the Palmetto Expressway.

As the tanker truck driver took the ramp from south I-95 to the westbound Palmetto Expressway he apparently lost control of his semi truck and the 18 wheeler flipped over on its side. The tanker finally came to a rest on the ramp bridge over the Tri-Rail commuter line, its wheels up against the cement railing. There were no other vehicles involved in the truck accident.

The truck driver was able to escape from the cab of his semi truck, and emergency personnel who responded to the scene treated him for minor injuries at the site.

The impact of the truck accident apparently punctured the tank and thousands of gallons of fuel oil spilled out onto the interstate. A great deal of the hazardous liquid also fell onto the Tri-Rail railroad tracks below the interstate ramp bridge, making them unsafe for travel. Tri-Rail officials immediately stopped running several trains, interrupting the regular service of the commuter line.

Florida Highway Patrol was at the scene of the truck accident Sunday and closed down several of the roads and ramps in the area around the overturned tanker. The roads would remain closed for hours as crews worked to clear the roadway. They had to bring in another tanker truck and transfer the fuel oil that remained in the disabled truck before attempting to get the overturned rig back on its wheels so that it could be moved off the interstate. This process took many hours and it was not until late Sunday night that the 18 wheeler was finally back up and ready to be towed.

MAP

View Larger Map
Haz-Mat teams were brought in to clean the fuel spill from the highway ramp and also from the rail road tracks below the overturned tanker truck. Crews were still working on the oil spill Sunday night, hoping to have it cleared in time for the Monday morning commute.

While the roads and rail line were closed down, FHP and local police were rerouting traffic and commuters around the truck accident site at the southbound I-95 exit to west Palmetto Expressway. The other interstate roads affected included the I-95 north and south flyover express lanes, the connecting ramp between Palmetto and NW 167th Street, and the Florida Turnpike’s southbound exit to the eastbound lanes of the Palmetto Expressway.

Tri-Rail brought in buses to take stranded riders between the Hollywood and Opalocka Stations.
FHP is investigating the tanker truck accident and preliminary findings point to speed being a factor. They believe the truck driver may have taken the exit ramp too fast and this caused him to lose control of his semi tanker truck.

No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

---

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident attorney & lawyer directory that also reports on up to date truck accidents across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know trucking laws. Contact an expert Florida truck accident lawyer for a free consultation.