BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – An overturned fuel truck closed a stretch of U.S. Highway 27 in both directions Thursday.
The crash occurred near Interstate 75 in Broward County.
Broward Sheriff's Office Fire Rescue officials said the overturned truck was carrying about 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel, when it overturned on the I-75 exit ramp to U.S. 27.
"There were four separate leaks of diesel fuel," BSO Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said. "They were able to stop the leak. They were able to plug those four different leaks. We had about 100 gallons of diesel product that had leaked out, which was contained."
Authorities spent much of the afternoon offloading the recoverable fuel from the truck.
U.S. 27 was shut down in both directions because of fears that the excess fuel could ignite.
"With any type of fuel, all it takes is a spark or any type of combustion, and then you can have a whole different set of problems. Fortunately, there were none," Jachles said.
The driver, Juan Perez, 65, of Miami, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center with minor injuries.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Perez failed to negotiate the curve, lost control of the fuel truck and overturned.
Northbound lanes of the highway reopened shortly after 1 p.m.