A tragic crash on the Florida Turnpike Thursday evening resulted in the death of a 37-year-old St. Cloud man and minor injuries to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The collision took place around 7:04 p.m. in the northbound lanes near mile marker 250 om Florida’s Turnpike when the driver of a Ford F-150 truck, who was an Orange County Deputy, had a mechanical issue which he said caused him to lose control. His pickup truck rotated counterclockwise and came to a stop in the inside lane facing south and in the direct path of the oncoming 2014 Subaru BRZ driven by the St. Cloud man which then struck the disabled pickup.
Preliminary findings indicate that the deputy sustained minor injuries and was transported to HCA Florida Osceola for treatment. The driver of the Subaru BRZ, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was also transported to HCA Florida Osceola but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The crash prompted the closure of all northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike, with traffic diverted at Osceola Parkway. Authorities are conducting an extensive investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the collision.
