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Published on Sunday, August 11, 2002
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
ORLANDO -- Two people were killed and five others injured early Sunday when a tanker truck collided with a retaining wall on a highway overpass sending chunks of concrete onto motorists below, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
By midday, fire crews managed to put out a blaze sparked when the gasoline tanker rolled over and slammed into the retaining wall on State Road 528, a toll road onramp that leads to Interstate 4.
But the heat from the fire damaged the 30-foot-high overpass and engineers on site were concerned the bridge was in danger of collapsing, said FHP Lt. Eddie Herrell.
The two motorists who died were inside an SUV that lost control after the chunks of concrete caused drivers to suddenly slam their brakes and swerve, Herrell said.
Concrete debris struck at least one car's windshield. Herrell said the driver of the SUV was hospitalized and was in serious but stable condition. The tanker truck driver was also injured and in stable condition, Herrell said.
The three other motorists suffered minor injuries, Herrell said.
The identities of the those killed or injured were not immediately released.
A mile-long stretch of Interstate 4 in both directions remained closed midday Sunday.
Herrell said the onramp where the truck hit the wall would remain closed indefinitely.