PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — A tractor-trailer truck driver was taken to a trauma center as a precaution after his vehicle went over the side of the Beeline Highway overpass of Florida's Turnpike northbound exit on Saturday morning in rainy conditions, a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue spokesman said.
The crash at the mile marker 107 exit disrupted travel on the two highways for several hours. That included Frank H. Peters Jr., who was driving on the turnpike and captured video sent to WPTV.
PBCFR spokesman Capt. Tom Reyes also posted images on Facebook showing the truck dangling and efforts by his agency.
Reyes told WPTV the driver was the only one involved in the crash.
PBCFR and Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue responded at 8:15 a.m. and they were was able to get the driver out at 9:06 a.m., Reyes said.
The truck, hauling scrap metal, lost control while leaving the turnpike and was partially ejected from the overpass with the cab suspended in the air.
"Weather may have played a role in this incident, as it was raining at the time of the crash," Reyes said.
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The driver was awake and aware, communicating with first responders. That person was able to walk from the bucket of the ladder truck to a waiting stretcher "under their own power," Reyes said.
Reyes also posted video on Twitter of the rescue.
Amazing video of rescue of trapped 18 wheeler driver, left hanging off the overhang from earlier today. Full Story on other sites. #AllHazardsAllTheTime pic.twitter.com/ckPWzHNf6h
— PBC Fire Rescue (@PBCFR) December 24, 2023
During this operation, there were two other crashes on the southbound side of the turnpike, attributed to people driving distracted and taking cellphone videos of this incident, Reyes said.
Two hours after the crash, the turnpike's northbound lanes were backed up.
WPTV photojournalist Jeff Ringrose observed the truck resting at the three-way intersection of the ramps and the overpass. Crews were checking out the exterior of the cab as tow trucks removed the vehicle.
Three on- and off-ramps were closed for hours with only the southbound off ramp that leads to the spur and North Jog Road open.