Fiery Crash Prompts I-75 Closing (Video)

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Pasco County Fire Rescue is advising motorists to use routes other than Interstate 75 Friday evening. According to the agency, a tractor-trailer crashed, exploded and then caught fire in the northbound lanes near State Road 52.

“All northbound traffic is stopped,” fire rescue reported in a 6:42 p.m. June 9 email to media.

The Florida Highway Patrol reports that all northbound lanes in the State Road 52 area are closed. Traffic is being redirected off the interstate at State Road 54. The inside and center lanes southbound were off limits for a time due to heavy smoke.

The fire erupted after a tractor-trailer hit a barrier. It then “exploded and caught fire,” the email from fire rescue said.

According to the highway patrol, the crash occurred around 5:27 p.m. The agency reported the truck went into the shoulder area and the driver then over-corrected. When he did, the truck hit a construction guard rail, causing the fuel tank to rupture and catch fire.

The truck’s driver has not yet been identified, but fire rescue officials say the man was seriously injured. “He received burns over 40 percent of his body and was airlifted to a local trauma center,” the agency wrote.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, fire rescue said.

It is unclear how long the backup might continue. Fire rescue did not say how far south traffic was affected. Further information is not yet available.

A video taken from the scene of the crash may be viewed below. Note: The contents are graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.

Photo and video courtesy of Pasco County Fire Rescue