ORLANDO, Fla. — A 51-year-old man was hospitalized after a crash involving five vehicles on Florida’s Turnpike in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:33 a.m. on Friday at the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike near mile marker 257 in Orlando.
The accident involved a 2017 BMW X6 that was in the center outside lane and a 2021 semi-truck with a trailer in the outside lane.
Troopers said it remains unclear whether the BMW entered the semi-truck’s path, but a collision occurred between the two vehicles, disabling the BMW on the road.
A 2017 Hyundai Tucson hit the disabled BMW, and then a 2007 semi-truck also struck the BMW and jackknifed in the inside lane.
This made the BMW spin into the outside lane and collide with a stopped 2026 semi-truck, according to FHP.
The crash closed lanes from the I-4 exit to State Road 528 for hours.
Traffic cameras show debris spread across the Turnpike near the site of the crash.
The driver of the 2007 semi-truck, a 51-year-old male from Lake City, was transported to Dr. Phillips Hospital with minor injuries.
FHP explained that at first, the crash was classified as a hit-and-run because the driver of the 2021 semi-truck was observed driving south on the Florida Turnpike.
However, it was later explained that the driver was looking for a wide enough shoulder to safely pull over.
The road was reopened at 6:15 a.m., and the crash is under investigation.