Tanker Truck Plunges Into Canal After Florida Turnpike Crash

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - An accident on the Turnpike in Hollywood sent an oil tanker truck careening into a canal.

It happened around 7 a.m. in the southbound lanes just before Hollywood Boulevard giving some people in a nearby neighborhood a frightening wake-up call.

"I said 'whoa, how could that happen?'," said Irma Benavidez.

The Florida Highway Patrol said it appears that the driver of a Mercedes Benz, to avoid being hit by another vehicle, veered into the tanker's lane. The tanker hit the car from behind. It then veered down the embankment and ended up half-submerged in the canal.

"As soon as I walked out, all the neighbors were outside just trying to figure out what was going on. Once I saw the helicopter and I looked toward the left, that's when I saw the truck in the canal. That was pretty shocking because I saw it was a gas tank one, so that was a little bit scary," said Cheyenne Kippenberger.

The crash shut down traffic for hours. Even before emergency crews arrived, a young Good Samaritan sprang into action.

"This guy across the street went over there, jumped the fence and tried to help him (the tanker driver)," said Benavidez.

The driver of the tanker was transported to the hospital as a precaution. The driver of the Mercedes Benz did not have to go to the hospital.

Everyone is expected to be all right but it made for a scary and hectic start to the day

"You know, especially stating your morning hearing a helicopter is a little bit shocking," said Kippenberger.

The FHP said the tanker should be removed and all lanes open by early afternoon.