VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A semi truck carrying diesel fuel overturned near Lake Helen in Volusia County early Friday morning after the driver attempted to exit onto the SR-44 westbound ramp. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the traffic in front of the semi slowed down and the driver applied his brakes and lost control of the truck.

When the tanker overturned it spilled hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel, which caused I-4 at SR-44 to close in both directions for several hours. A nearby industrial park also had to be evacuated because of concerns over fumes.

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VIDEO REPORT: Tanker Spills Fuel
AT THE SCENE: Images Of Overturned Tanker

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The driver of the tanker, 49-year-old Ronnie Harrison of St. Petersburg, told troopers he was exiting onto SR- 44 at 4:00am and was forced to brake suddenly to avoid a much slower car ahead of him. Volusia County Fire Rescue said Harrison was alert before he was taken to Halifax Medical Center for evaluation.

Motorist Greg Charles said he's fortunate he left early for an appointment in Daytona Beach.

"I allow for wrecks on I-4. It’s a parking lot," he said.

Thousands of others were caught in the back up Detours brought three times the normal number of customers to a gas station on SR-44. The store manager said he put up a sign inside informing drivers that the most direct way to Daytona Beach was 17-92.

Nearly 20 workers at two industrial complexes were evacuated as a precaution, within the 1000-foot safety perimeter.

Eyewitness News was told that the smell of gas was pungent. Volusia County’s Hazmat team was on scene as 3,800 gallons of fuel leaked into a retention pond.

The US Department of Transportation records show the company’s accident record was well below the national average. But it includes one fatal crash and 26 injured drivers in the last two years.

The FHP said they were considering filing charges against the tanker driver. Fire rescue staff said a private company will spend Friday afternoon cleaning up the fuel spill.

Troopers reopened the interstate Friday afternoon.