Southbound Lanes Of Turnpike Remain Closed Due To Overturned Tanker Truck, Fuel Spill

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - An overturned tanker truck snarled traffic on a portion of the Turnpike extension Friday morning and hours later, the southbound lanes remain closed.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the accident, at about 6:15 a.m., happened in the southbound lanes near Bird Road.

The overturned tanker spilled up to 7,500 gallons of fuel onto the roadway. The driver of the truck was transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of the turnpike were closed so the vehicles can be removed and the fuel spill cleaned up. The northbound lanes have since re-opened.

Drivers are urged to use the Palmetto Expressway as an alternate.