The driver of a tanker truck died this Thursday after losing control of the vehicle, which overturned and caught fire on the Florida Turnpike, near Bird Road, in the southwest of Miami-Dade.
The accident required the complete closure of the highway in both directions and caused significant traffic congestion.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the incident occurred shortly before 10:30 in the morning in the southbound lanes, near mile marker 23, corresponding to the exit for Bird Road (SW 40th Street).
"The truck lost control, overturned, and crashed into the concrete barrier of the central median," reported the FHP in a statement cited by NBC Miami.
The driver died at the scene of the accident. So far, the authorities have not disclosed their identity.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue teams responded immediately to extinguish the fire, which almost completely consumed the vehicle.
Aerial images captured by the Sky 10 helicopter from Local 10 showed the truck reduced to a charred structure, while firefighters continued to cool the remnants and a light column of smoke continued to rise from the site.
Videos and photos circulated from the scene also showed long queues of vehicles stopped in both directions of the highway due to the complete closure of the roadway.
Authorities advised drivers to use alternative routes while the vehicle removal and accident investigation are ongoing.
At the moment, the FHP has not determined what caused the truck to lose control, nor have they announced when the highway will be fully reopened.
The investigation into the causes of the incident is still ongoing.
The Turnpike has been the scene of other fatal accidents in recent years. In August 2025, a truck driver who made an illegal turn caused a crash in which three people died and subsequently faced charges for vehicular homicide. Months earlier, a collision between two trucks on another part of the highway resulted in the death of a woman.
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