A fatal crash involving three semi trucks in the southbound lanes of Florida's Turnpike has the road shut down at Osceola Parkway, and northbound lanes are getting through extremely slowly.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers report the three trucks were headed southbound single file around 3:15 this morning when the driver of the truck in the back, with a double-trailer, failed to stop for the two ahead which had slowed for traffic ahead of them. That truck collided with the one ahead, starting a chain-reaction crash with the one in front. Troopers say the double trailer semi then became partially engulfed in flames. The driver, who has not been identified, was declared deceased on scene.
The driver of the middle truck, a 38-year-old Orlando man, was transported to HCA Florida Osceola Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the lead truck, a 55-year-old Hollywood man, was not injured and remained on scene.
While the Turnpike lanes are closed, drivers should use Orange Blossom Trail or John Young Parkway as a north-south thoroughfare.
