A tragic crash late Thursday night caused hours of delays on Florida’s Turnpike South in St. Lucie County, leaving one man dead and forcing authorities to shut down multiple lanes until early Friday morning. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that the deadly collision happened around 8:40 p.m. near the entrance ramp to the Turnpike from Okeechobee Road in Port St. Lucie. What began as a normal night of travel quickly turned into a scene of flashing lights, emergency crews, and backed-up traffic stretching for miles as investigators worked to piece together what happened.
According to troopers, the crash involved two vehicles: a box truck and a pickup truck. Early reports show that a 62-year-old man driving a pickup truck was heading southbound on the Turnpike entrance ramp when he collided head-on with a box truck driven by a 37-year-old man who was traveling northbound on the same southbound ramp. The impact was severe, and the pickup truck driver suffered fatal injuries. Captain Satchelle Peterkin pronounced him dead at the scene. The driver of the box truck has not yet been identified, and no additional details about injuries to that driver were immediately released.
Traffic cameras captured the aftermath of the crash, showing the damaged box truck positioned on the ramp as emergency crews responded. The scene remained active for several hours as investigators examined the wreckage and worked to clear the roadway. At approximately 2 a.m. Friday, the southbound exit to Okeechobee Road and both entrance ramps leading from Okeechobee Road were shut down. This closure forced drivers to reroute and caused significant delays for overnight travelers trying to access the Turnpike.
The crash resulted in traffic backups stretching more than two miles as vehicles slowly inched forward. Although the main lanes were impacted, authorities allowed drivers to pass using the shoulder, helping to reduce some congestion. Even with that measure in place, motorists faced long waits, and many were caught off guard by the unexpected closure. Law enforcement urged patience as crews worked to clear debris and reopen the roadway safely.
This tragic crash once again highlights the dangers of wrong-way driving and the devastating effects of high-speed, head-on collisions. While investigators continue to look into the cause of the incident, questions remain about how the box truck came to be traveling in the wrong direction on a southbound entrance ramp. Florida Highway Patrol is expected to release further information as their investigation continues.
For many in St. Lucie County, the loss of life and lengthy closures turned an ordinary night into a somber reminder of how quickly a routine drive can become fatal. As the roadway reopened and traffic slowly returned to normal, the community was left mourning a life lost while waiting for answers that may shed light on the circumstances behind this deadly crash.
