Trucking Accident in Broward County Closes Southbound Lanes of U.S. 27
As Fort Lauderdale semi truck accident attorneys, we were pleased to read that there were no serious injuries in the crash of a tanker truck this week. CBS4 reported May 3 that a tanker truck overturned around 8 a.m. that day on the exit ramp leading from Interstate 75 to U.S. 27. Fortunately, no one else on the road was in the way of the truck, which was carrying a load of bleach. However, the trucker, Alejandro Mas of Orlando, suffered head injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he was expected to recover. The accident closed the southbound lanes of U.S. 27 for more than eight hours as crews worked to right the truck and stop a leak from the tank.
Mas was reportedly driving a load of bleach from Tampa to Miami when the accident occurred. Broward Sheriff’s Office spokespeople said he was apparently driving too fast when he entered the exit from I-75 to U.S. 27 in Weston. The turn caused the cargo in the truck to shift, overbalancing the trainer and then overturning it. The truck skidded about 500 feet before it stopped. Passers-by helped get Mas out of the cab of the truck, and he was treated by fire rescue personnel at the scene before being flown to Broward General Medical Center. The accident also caused the tank on the truck to leak a small amount of the bleach it was carrying, which then mixed with oil. Cleaning it up required help from the hazardous materials team from Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue.
Our Miami-Dade tanker truck crash lawyers are pleased that this accident wasn’t worse, because it easily could have been. A large truck like this one weighs many tons, which means it can literally crush the average passenger car, pickup truck or SUV. Any other driver who happened to be nearby in morning rush-hour traffic could have been killed or badly injured by this crash. In addition, the bleach spill could have had toxic consequences for the people and environment nearby. Chlorine bleach, such as the kind we use in laundry, is safe in small amounts but can burn the skin and mucous membranes in larger concentrations. When very concentrated fumes are breathed, it can be toxic. It is also unsafe when large amounts are added to drinking water and will outright kill fish.
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