Driver of fuel tanker that exploded on I-595 in Broward died in accident, officials say

The driver of a fuel tanker — which was carrying about 8,000 gallons of gasoline — died in a major explosion Sunday afternoon after losing control of the truck on an entrance ramp to Florida’s Turnpike.

The 53-year-old Homestead driver, who has not been identified by authorities, was driving west on I-595 near Davie Boulevard in Broward County, Florida Highway Patrol said. Around 3:45 p.m., as the driver entered the turnpike entrance ramp, the truck hit the concrete wall on the right shoulder, went over the wall and landed on the tanker’s roof on the grass area below.

The driver, officials said, wasn’t able to leave the truck in time.

Troopers said they still don’t know why the driver lost control of the vehicle. When the tanker landed on its roof, the gasoline it was transporting caught fire and caused the explosion.

All eastbound lanes and the southbound entrance ramp to I-595 from Florida’s Turnpike were closed, as a dark cloud of black smoke enveloped the scene of the overturned tanker around 4:20 p.m. The ramps reopened late Sunday night.

Huge fire on the south side of I-595 just east of the Davie Blvd exit in Fort Lauderdale/Davie. pic.twitter.com/WI8hTOqwzN

— Danny Sanchez (@dannysanchez) August 1, 2021

The investigation into the accident is still pending, troopers said.

Miami Herald staff writer David J. Neal contributed to this report.