South Florida

6-Vehicle Semi Crash Snarls Traffic on Turnpike

Southbound lanes remained shut down for hours.

A serious six-vehicle crash on the southbound Florida Turnpike during the Wednesday morning commute left a double semi-truck overturned, traffic backed up for hours and two people hospitalized, one of them in critical condition, officials said.

Aerial chopper footage showed a double semi-truck overturned on its side near exit 25 at Southwest Eighth Street in Miami-Dade before Tamiami Trail.

Two people were taken to Kendall Regional Hospital, one of them in critical condition, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews confirmed. That victim also had to be extricated from their vehicle.

The crash started in the northbound lanes just before 8 a.m. when a wheelbarrow fell from a truck, causing several vehicles, including a double load semi-truck, to swerve to avoid hitting it, troopers tpld NBC 6 South Florida.

That semi-truck lost control and landed on its side in the southbound lanes, and several cars crashed into it.

A total of six vehicles were involved in the accident, police said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area as crews respond to this very active scene.

All lanes remained closed on the Florida Turnpike southbound before Exit 25/Southwest Eighth Street as of noon. Northbound lanes were open, but drivers should expect major delays.

This is a developing story. Stay with NBC 6 South Florida for updates.

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