MARTIN COUNTY – One person sustained life-threatening injuries Wednesday morning following a wrong-way crash on Florida’s Turnpike, law enforcement officials said.
Martin County Fire Rescue crews just before 10 a.m. went to the crash in the northbound lanes in the area of the Palm City exit, according to Cory Pippin, fire rescue spokesperson.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office stated the lanes would be closed for several hours and that the Florida Highway Patrol was handling the investigation.
Lt. Indiana Miranda, FHP spokesperson, stated via email that a Coral Springs man drove a 2017 GMC south on the Turnpike and “proceeded through a U-Turn slot and began to travel southbound in the northbound lanes” near the Palm City exit.
Meanwhile, a 2007 Freightliner semi-truck was driven north by a Reddick man. The GMC went into the same lane as the semi-truck, and the vehicles collided head-on.
The GMC driver was thrown from his vehicle, and was in critical but stable condition at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, FHP stated.
The semi-truck driver was taken to Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital where he was being treated for minor injuries, FHP stated.
It’s not the first wrong-way crash in recent weeks on the Treasure Coast.
Two people died following a wrong-way crash April 15 on Interstate 95 in northern St. Lucie County that caused the roadway to shut down, according to the FHP.
That crash happened as an 81-year-old Delray Beach man, who died after the crash, drove a Nissan Sentra north in the southbound lanes approaching Indrio Road. A Honda Civic or Accord was traveling south, and the two vehicles collided.
The Honda rotated before ending up on the center lane facing north.
A southbound 1999 semi tractor trailer on the center lane crashed with the Honda. The tractor trailer continued south and collided with a guardrail.
The Honda and semi tractor burned after the crash.
The Honda driver also died after the crash. A passenger in the Honda sustained “incapacitating injuries,” the FHP stated.
The semi driver, a 21-year-old Orlando man, sustained non-incapacitating injuries.
Mini bike incidents: 2 deaths, 4 incidents locally highlight importance of knowing rules about mini bikes
7-acre wildfire: Wildfire contained in Palm City; no injuries
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com .
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Northbound Turnpike closed for hours after wrong-way crash in Palm City
Most Popular
Comments / 0