A truck driver says that he was cut off by another vehicle just before the crash that left him dangling precariously from a Florida bridge this morning.
An early morning collision on one of Florida's busiest highways sent a semi-truck through a guard rail, leaving the cab dangling over the JD Young Bridge. The accident backed up traffic for miles. https://t.co/bHNGfdmZu0 pic.twitter.com/7vlWwrEBvj
— ABC News (@ABC) July 20, 2018
The crash occurred around 7:15 this morning in the northbound lanes of I-75 over the J.D. Young Bridge in Manatee County, according to Fox 13 News. The 49 year old Sarasota-based truck driver told police that a white vehicle changed from the right to the center lane right in front of him. The truck driver says that tried to avoid rear ending the vehicle but wound up losing control of his rig and jackknifing on the wet road.
The truck then collided with a concrete barrier and crashed over it, leaving the cab of the truck dangling over the Manatee River.
I-75 northbound in Ellenton is closed after this semi truck jackknifed, leaving the cab hanging over the bridge over the Manatee River. The driver made it out okay. Good news is the semi is now back on the bridge and traffic should be flowing soon! pic.twitter.com/XzlB2IPRWn
— Ryan French (@RyanFrenchWFTS) July 20, 2018
Luckily, the truck driver was able to escape from the crash with only minor injuries. He was not taken to the hospital.
The crash blocked the interstate for about two hours, but all lanes were reopened shortly after 9 a.m.
It isn’t clear at this time whether charges will be filed.