Overturned Tractor Trailer Closes S.R.3 for Several Hours

(Brevard County, Fla.) - An overturned tractor trailer caused traffic delays after closing S.R.3 for several hours.  The crash occurred yesterday morning (June 13th) on S.R.3 just south of S.R.528 in Merritt Island.  Although the tractor trailer was not carrying any hazardous materials, the vehicle did endure a fuel leak.

A Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) Team from Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) was called to the scene to mitigate the leak.  Crews were able to contain the leak to the roadway by constructing a dike from dirt at the scene.  The leak was inaccessible so the Haz-Mat team "pumped off" the remaining fuel.  Pumping off allows crews to move remaining fuel from the leaking tank into a container for proper disposal.  The fuel was confined to the roadway and did not impact any waterways.

Four people were involved in the incident, three of which required transport by ambulance to local hospitals. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the driver of the tractor trailer was at fault.  Details on the charges are available from FHP.

Additional pictures are available at Brevard Fire Alert pics

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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