INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 76-year-old man was seriously hurt after a dump truck lost control and slammed into several small cars, causing officials to close eastbound State Road 60 for several hours Wednesday, authorities said.
The man – identified by troopers as Douglas Zapf – was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce with critical injuries, Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Yanko Reyes said. It was unclear which vehicle Zapf was in.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The crash – involving seven vehicles – happened about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at 82nd Avenue and S.R. 60, Indian River County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. All eastbound lanes reopened by 1 p.m., Reyes said.
The wreck occurred in the west corridor, not far from Interstate 95.
“It appears the driver of the dump truck lost control and hit six other vehicles,” Reyes said.
Authorities briefly closed eastbound S.R. 60 from 82nd Avenue to 74th Avenue. Traffic was diverted at 90th Avenue, Indian River County deputies said.
Highway troopers continue to investigate the wreck.
Motorists experienced heavy fog Wednesday morning, urging weather officials to issue a dense fog advisory at 9 a.m. The cloud of fog stretched over Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard, Osceola and Okeechobee counties, according to National Weather Service in Melbourne.
WED DEC 11, 555 AM| DENSE FOG ADVISORY for Brevard, Osceola, Okeechobee, Indian River, St Lucie, Martin Counties until 9 AM. Leave early for your destination this morning! Reduce your speed, use your low beams, and leave extra following distance. pic.twitter.com/VliaVuCYOq
— NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) December 11, 2019
Forecasters urged motorists to leave early for their destinations, reduce their speed limits, use low beams and leave an extra distance between them and other vehicles. It was unclear if the heavy fog contributed to the multi-vehicle crash.