826 Mess: Highway Sign Crashes Onto Road Backing Up Traffic

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Rush hour traffic came to a screeching halt in Miami Gardens on the Palmetto near NW 17th avenue when an overhead sign ended up across the East-bound lanes.

Chopper4 captured the major mess that followed after an auto-transport truck driver who only identified himself Jorge said he knocked the sign down.

"I'm not going to say this is the worst I've seen but this is definitely weird because I still don't even know how I hit that sign," the truck driver said.

The Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement all responded to the scene shortly after the incident around a quarter past 6.

Jorge said he was about to begin his work shift and was doing 50 mph when a pickup truck cut him off in the eastbound lane of SR 826 near 17 Avenue and he slammed on his breaks.

"I saw the truck. I got on the brake. I was worried about hitting the guy. Once I saw I was going toward the wall, I felt some relief thinking I was going to nudge the wall," he said. "And then it was just my eyes closed and when I opened them again, the windshield's busted and the truck is totaled."

According to crews at the scene, the car carrier truck hit several poles – including the one that was holding up the sign.

This forced a temporary road closure while crews remove the signage from the road, backing up traffic as far as Red Road.

Several vehicles were seen turning around and going west on the east bound lanes trying to get off at the nearest exit ramp.

Those who live nearby were startled to hear the impact.

"It sounded like a bomb. It was really loud smacking against the floor. I was watching the guy jag it a little bit. It was really loud," Charlie Zayas said.

Asked if he'd have to do it over again or do something different, the truck driver said he'd do the same.

"I'm just thankful nobody got hurt. The only thing I did was lose a truck. Nobody got hurt. Nobody was involved in the accident. The sign could have literally killed somebody," Jorge said.

FHP said the investigation continues but it appears the driver will be cited.

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