FELLSMERE — A 55-year-old man was killed after he laid down on the roadway along southbound Interstate 95 and was struck by a semi-truck late Saturday, sheriff’s officials said. The incident caused officials to block southbound lanes on the interstate.
Several agencies, including the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Fellsmere Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol, responded to the wreck. Highway troopers were leading the investigation.
Sheriff’s officials received several 911 calls from motorists about 9:38 p.m. about a man who laid down on the highway near mile marker 155 along the southbound lanes, said spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Jaworski. Deputies found the man’s body in the roadway and determined he had been struck by a vehicle.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, said Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry.
The semi-truck’s driver remained at the scene and spoke with deputies and troopers, Jaworski said. Deputies found the man’s vehicle parked along the shoulder of I-95 near the crash site.
Law enforcement officers shut down the southbound lanes at mile marker 156, Jaworski said. Traffic was being diverted through Fellsmere on County Road 512, Touchberry said.
It was unclear when the interstate was expected to reopen. Highway troopers were not immediately available for comment.