Dump truck strikes I-75 overpass in Sarasota, closing portion of interstate, snarling traffic for miles: FHP

SARASOTA, Fla. - A dump truck driver is facing pending charges after slamming into an I-75 overpass in Sarasota on Monday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

What we know:

Officials said a dump truck headed northbound on I-75 hit the Proctor Road overpass with the box of the truck around 4:45 a.m.

The truck box was reportedly carrying a load of gravel that spilled onto the road after the collision.

There is gravel on the outer two lanes of I-75 from the 205 northbound on ramp to the Proctor Road overpass.

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One lane of northbound I-75 remained open, but traffic was backed up for several miles.

Dig deeper:

Trooper Ken Watson with the Florida Highway Patrol said that the dump truck driver, who does not speak English, was driving from Miami and had a button engaged to lift his load. Watson added that It's possible the button was engaged all the way from Miami.

"Unfortunately, the driver had initiated the back of that vehicle to rise. At that point in time, he struck the mile marker sign and information sign, which ripped it off of its hinges, then continued moving forward and struck the Proctor Road overpass. Becoming wedged in between not only the bridge but the roadway itself," Watson explained. "There’s a power variable within these trucks that will divert power from the engine to the back of the truck, allowing it to lift its load. This was engaged apparently without the driver knowing this and that is why when he was operating the vehicle, it began to lift up as if it was dumping its load. Unfortunately, he did not realize this until it was too late."

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"The Florida Highway Patrol feels we are very fortunate no one was injured in this crash," Watson added. "The violence of this crash, striking the bridge the way he did, losing the load the way he did could have caused major crashes throughout the area at the time of the event. That is the one thing we are grateful for is the minimum amount of traffic that is out at 5 a.m."

What we don't know:

It is unclear when all lanes will reopen.

What's next:

Watson explained that there are pending charges against the driver regarding not properly operating the motor vehicle and not properly having all the engaged equipment in place.

He also said that a trooper will remain on scene making sure the stability of the bridge is intact and working on removing the vehicle from the bridge itself.