VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The driver of a tractor-trailer carrying meat fell asleep Thursday morning before smashing into a truck hauling onions, causing food to spill all over southbound Interstate 95 and blocking the highway for hours, according to officials.
All lanes have since been reopened, Florida Highway Patrol said.
FHP troopers said the crash happened around 3 a.m. Thursday, near State Road 44 in New Smyrna.
Troopers said the truck hauling refrigerated meat rear-ended the truck hauling onions, which caused the trailer to come apart, spilling one ton of 50-pound bags of onions and diesel fuel all over the interstate.
"Not only did crews have to pick up the onions, they also had to extract the fuel tank because it ruptured during the crash," said Mitch Henderson, of FHP. "It's not a pretty sight.”
The driver of the meat truck, 38-year-old Pierre McClain, of Hialeah, Fl., told troopers that he fell asleep before striking the rear of the onion truck driven by 56-year-old Leonel Vazquez, of North Carolina.
Vazquez was not injured, according to FHP.
"Thanks to God, I am alive now," said Vazquez.
But McClain was trapped inside the smashed semi cab and had to be cut out by emergency responders. He was then airlifted to Halifax Hospital, and is in stable condition.
"He's in stable condition. I think he's got a couple broken ribs and a broken femur," said Henderson.
"We are still investigating that right now we are trying to clean everything up so we can get some measurements and stuff so it's still under investigation," said Henderson.
The clean-up is more difficult than most because one ton of onions are on the road and once that is cleaned up, crews have to mop up the diesel fuel spill and repair the damage to the road.
"I heard some, eh, some strange noise from behind, and when I saw myself inside the forest I am like, 'What happened?'" Vazquez said.
Troopers said they are checking McClain's driving log to make sure he got enough sleep.
Interstate drivers are allowed to drive 11 hours after a 10-hour break. Intrastate drivers may drive 12 hours.
"Just a little bit frustrated, I am frustrated," Vasquez said.
FHP said charges are pending against McClain, who will have to pay for the clean up.
WFTV
