MIRAMAR, Fla. — A dump truck slammed into a pole on Florida’s Turnpike in Miramar Thursday morning, spilling sand across eight lanes of traffic and sending two drivers to the hospital, officials said.
The crash happened just after 8:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes near University Drive, according to Miramar Fire Rescue.
Crews arrived to find what remained of the dump truck’s cab nearly destroyed from the impact.
The force of the collision caused the truck’s engine to separate from the vehicle and go airborne over a concrete barrier, striking at least one car in the northbound lanes, authorities said.
Another vehicle in the southbound lanes was also damaged. Both cars were covered in sand after the truck’s load spilled across the Turnpike.
MFR officials confirmed that one of the drivers was rushed to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood as a trauma alert.
They said the dump truck driver had to be extricated from the wreckage and was also taken to the same hospital, where they remained in critical condition Thursday. The condition of the second driver was not immediately released.
Sky 10 video showed traffic backed up for miles as all lanes were shut down while crews worked to clear the gravel-like sand and debris from the roadway. Some lanes remained blocked for hours.
Authorities have not yet said what caused the crash.
Drivers were urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes including Interstate 95, U.S. 1 and Interstate 75.
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