WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A five-vehicle crash that sent three people to the hospital temporarily closed Florida's Turnpike in both directions in in what was declared a "mass casualty incident," Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said Saturday afternoon.
Rescue united were dispatched at 12:45 p.m. at northbound mile marker 104 between Okeechobee Boulevard and the Beeline Expressway.
About 3 1/2 hours earlier and 3 miles north, a tractor trailer went over the side of the Beeline Highway overpass of Florida's Turnpike northbound exit.
In the later crash, one person who was trapped and required heavy extrication. Once freed from the vehicle, that person was brought to a trauma center by TraumaHawk, PBCFR said.
Two others, including a second trauma alert, were taken by ground. All others declined transport.
PBCFR said "approximately 5 vehicles total were involved."
At approximately 2:15 the scene was turned over to Florida Higway Patrol for crash investigation.
Michael Orlando submitted images and video to WPTV.
