According to a report WFTS-TV, a semi recently crashed into a barrier in Clearwater, Florida which caused a massive fire and then an explosion. The accident backed up traffic for hours. Cleanup took four hours.
Luckily, the driver of the 18-wheeler walked away from the scene unharmed and even turned down medical treatment. FDOT Spokesperson Kris Carson stated that there was minimal destruction and that incredibly no one lost their lives.
The semi driver reportedly told investigators that he got confused by the construction near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Gulf to Bay Boulevard. Carson told My Fox Tampa that he’s actually surprised the driver got confused.
“It’s really not [confusing] as long as you’re paying attention,” she told the station. We have construction going on but it’s been going on for many years and I don’t know how it would have happened in terms of the speeds or the barrier wall was right there,” she said. “We’re lucky that nobody was killed and the damage is actually minimal to the roadway.”
According to FDOT, the driver has been cited for careless driving and all of the repairs will be paid for by his company’s insurance. Under state law, the penalties vary. Depending on the speed, drivers could face up to a $250 fine.
Last year in Florida, there were 6,530 crashes and 238 fatalities involving large trucks. Unfortunately, those numbers have actually increased since 2012. While we would love to see those numbers go down, this serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant when behind the wheel. Crashes can happen within the blink of an eye, changing lives forever.
Here at Leizerman & Associates LLC we don’t take careless driving lightly. If you or someone you know have been the victim of a careless driver, call us today to learn how we possibly can help with your case. Consultations are free. You can reach us at 1-800-628-4500.
