Apollo Beach I-75 crash: Semi-truck spills lumber on roadway, driver cited: FHP
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
APOLLO BEACH, Fla. - A semi-truck driver was cited Thursday morning after a load of loose lumber went through the truck's cab and windshield before spilling across Interstate 75, temporarily shutting down two southbound lanes in the Apollo Beach area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Apollo Beach highway hazard
The backstory:
FHP says a 31-year-old Lake Wales man was driving a semi-truck southbound on I-75 near Mile Marker 245, just south of the Big Bend Road interchange, around 7:20 a.m.
Troopers say the driver slowed abruptly because of traffic ahead. The sudden stop caused the truck's load of lumber to move forward, crashing through the cab and front windshield before spilling onto the highway.
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
No injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident, FHP said.
Traffic impacts
Dig deeper:
Troopers say the incident forced the closure of the two outside southbound lanes of I-75 until about 8:40 a.m. as crews worked to clear the lumber from the roadway.
Traffic backed up through the Apollo Beach and Riverview area during the morning commute before all lanes reopened, according to FHP.
Courtesy: Florida Highway Patrol
Troopers cited the driver for failure to secure the truck's load, FHP said.
Unreleased driver name
What we don't know:
FHP did not release the name of the semi-truck driver.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Florida Highway Patrol.