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Jun 19, 2007 1:24 pm US/Eastern
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Turnpike Open After Fuel Spill & Multiple Crashes
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NORTH MIAMI DADE (CBS4) ―
Thousands of people were late to work Tuesday morning after getting tangled up in a traffic nightmare on the Florida Turnpike.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, there was an accident between a dump truck and a smaller truck in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike just north of Okeechobee Road. One of those trucks punctured a fuel tank which leaked fuel all over the road.
The fuel spill created an oil-slick which then led to several other collisions, including a small yellow Ford Focus which was crushed by a big-rig. The driver of the much smaller yellow car, managed to avoid serious injury by jumping out of his vehicle before the truck struck him from behind.
There were a total of at least four accidents in a 100-yard stretch of road, involving as many as nine vehicles.
All southbound lanes of the Turnpike were shutdown. Troopers opened the median in order to allow drivers to cross over and travel back in the northbound lanes.
The southbound turnpike entrances from I-75 and NW 57th Avenue were also both closed.
FHP officials confirm only 2 people suffered minor injuries. There were no serious injuries.
The DOT and FHP officials urged motorists to avoid the area all morning long.
It took more than five hours to clear the wreckage and re-open the road.
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