Accidents In Polk, Brevard Counties Close Interstates

A series of accidents and smokey conditions have delayed traffic in both Brevard County and Polk County Tuesday morning. In Brevard County, one person is dead in a five-car pileup in Rockledge. The accident has closed Interstate 95 north of Fiske Boulevard.

Florida Highway patrol said five cars were involved in three separate accidents around a construction zone.

News 13 has learned that a deputy was involved in the crash, but he was not injured.
Truck Runs Into Work Vehicle

Also in Brevard County, the Florida Highway Patrol is finishing up working on an accident on I-95 at mile marker 208.

FHP said a tractor-trailer was driving on I-95 around midnight when it rammed into a construction vehicle that was laying down road glue. Road glue is used to fasten down reflectors on the interstate.

Deputies said the driver was travelling about 70 mph and he did not see signs instructing motorists to change lanes to make room for the road work.

The driver of the semi was airlifted Holmes Regional Medical Center. He is in critical condition.

The driver of the work vehicle was not as seriously injured and was sent to Wuesthoff Medical Center. However, he was trapped inside his vehicle for about 45 minutes. Trooper said part of the reason he wasn't as seriously injured was because there is a crash barrier on the back of the work vehicle.

Both southbound lanes of I-95 are back open at this point. Only one northbound lane is open near this second crash.

U.S. 1 can be used as an alternative.
I-4 Closed In Polk County

In Polk County, authorities are using an abundance of caution and closing Interstate 4 between U.S. 27 and County Road 557 because of smoke in the area.

Traffic is being rerouted.

That stretch of the interstate is the same place where a deadly 70-car pileup took place week that killed four people. Smoke and fog contributed to that accident and there was some criticism that authorities did not act quickly enough to close the interstate because of dangerous conditions.Source