A tire tread malfunction caused a fiery crash on southbound Interstate 95 that killed one man and seriously injured two others, a Florida Highway Patrol traffic report shows.
A 63-year-old truck driver, from Tampa, was pronounced dead at the scene in the crash Wednesday. Troopers are waiting to inform the man’s family before releasing his identity.
The two-vehicle crash involving a semi truck and sports utility vehicle happened in Brevard County, just north of Indian River County.
The driver of the SUV, Robert Raicot, 69, and passenger Celina Ruel, 61, both of Canada, were taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Both have serious injuries.
Troopers said the truck driver was traveling at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on I-95 near mile marker 162 when the tire tread on the vehicle separated. The truck driver lost control and slammed into the back of the SUV, the report shows.
The impact jolted both vehicles toward the median and over the center guardrail. The semi-truck flipped, burst into flames and spilled thousands of chemicals in the roadway.
Alcohol is not a factor of the crash and all three people involved were wearing seat belts, troopers said. Troopers shut down I-95 in both directions for several hours.
FHP is still investigating the crash.
This story will be updated.
