I-75 Wrong Way Wrecks Kills 2
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) - Northbound I-75 at Sheridan Street has re-opened to traffic after a fiery head on crash early Thursday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said around 1 a.m. they received a 911 call about a red or maroon colored Chevy pick up truck traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway. They were not able to locate it before it slammed head on into a white Cadillac just north of the Sheridan Street exit.
Debris from the impact crashed into the guardrail as the vehicles burst into flames.
Both drivers were killed in the crash.
The FHP said the driver of the pick up truck was a 37-year-old man from Zephyrhills and the driver of the Cadillac was a 44-year-old man tourist from Peru.
Investigators said the driver of the truck was traveling south in the northbound lanes.
"Both drivers deceased, no passengers involved and the pickup truck eventually caught fire after the crash, but was immediately put out by responding agencies," Sgt. Anthony Baker with the FHP said.
Shortly before the deadly crash authorities said they received a 911 call about a vehicle traveling the wrong way on I-75.
"The first witness that called in at first observed the vehicle at about Royal Palm going the wrong way and that individual called 911," Baker said. "The bolo was put out to Pembroke Pines, our department and BSO."
Unfortunately, the crash occurred before authorities could locate the wrong way vehicle.
As investigators gathered evidence, I-75 northbound was shut down for several hours and traffic was diverted on to Sheridan Street.
"As this is a criminal case then we have to close the interstate so we can collect the proper evidence and information," Baker said.
FHP said that in the past, in similar crashes, usually alcohol is a factor, but that's not yet clear in this particular crash.
"I don't know if alcohol was involved at that time… at this point," Baker said. "But that would be investigated as a part of our investigation."
The FHP has not released their names and is still trying to determine why the driver of the SUV was heading in the wrong direction on I-75.
