Southbound lanes of I-95 reopen after semi overturns, spills debris

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All southbound lanes of Interstate 95 were closed at the 20th Street Expressway for hours Monday morning after an overturned tractor-trailer spilled its load of scrap metal across the highway.

The Florida Highway Patrol got the call about 9:30 a.m. and detoured traffic. One southbound lane reopened about 11:30 a.m. and a second opened just after noon.

The debris was pushed to the side and was loaded into other trucks before the third and final lane could reopen about 4 p.m.

According to the FHP crash report, the 43-year-old Lake City driver of the tractor-trailer was being cited for careless driving. Troopers said he was headed southbound on MLK Boulevard and part of the cargo hit the underside of an overpass, causing debris to fall onto the roadway.

The loose debris struck a small passenger car, troopers said, and the driver of the semi failed to safely negotiate the curve of the on-ramp to I-95, causing the trailer to overturn and spill the cargo.

At least two drivers who unsuccessfully tried to avoid hitting the debris were transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the semi was not injured.