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Semi catches fire on southbound Turnpike in Palm Beach County

Driver hurt; 300 gallons of diesel spilled
Posted at 9:04 AM, Mar 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-15 17:53:08-04

A tractor-trailer fire caused big backups Wednesday on Florida's Turnpike southbound between Lake Worth Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard. 

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The semi, which was hauling electronic equipment, caught fire around 8:30 a.m. just north of the Boynton Beach Boulevard exit.  

The incident closed all southbound lanes and some northbound lanes. The driver of the big rig was injured and transported to a local hospital.

Officials said about 300 gallons of diesel fuel spilled on the ground.  

The fire was extinguished just before 9 a.m. 

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the Florida Highway Patrol have since left the scene and by early afternoon traffic was again moving swiftly.