WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Two people died Tuesday morning in a crash involving two tractor-trailers on the Florida Turnpike in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
[TRAFFIC: Check conditions for your commute]
The crash happened around 4:50 a.m. Tuesday in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike near State Road 50.
The FHP said Larry Jones, 54, of Orlando, was merging back onto the Turnpike after checking on a tire issue when the other big rig rear-ended his semi. Jones was not injured, troopers said.
The driver of the second semi, 35-year-old Donald Carroll, and a sleeping passenger, 36-year-old Jesse Singleton, were ejected and killed, the FHP said.
Troopers said the first semi was traveling about 40 mph when it was hit by the other big rig, which was traveling around 70 mph.
Video from Local 6 News helicopter Sky 6 showed the cab of the second semi obliterated.
Three lanes were blocked near the Oakland exchange but reopened about six hours later.