SARASOTA, FLORIDA — A dump truck driver who does not speak English is facing pending charges after the box of his truck struck the Proctor Road overpass on Interstate 75 early Monday morning, spilling a load of gravel across the roadway and backing up traffic for miles.

The crash occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. on northbound I-75 in Sarasota County. According to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Ken Watson, the dump truck driver was traveling from Miami when a button that lifts the truck's box was engaged — possibly for the entire duration of the trip from Miami — causing the box to gradually rise without the driver's knowledge. The rising box struck a mile marker sign and an information sign, ripping them from their hinges, before the truck continued forward and struck the Proctor Road overpass, becoming wedged between the bridge and the roadway.

^{Photo credit: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office}

"Unfortunately, the driver had initiated the back of that vehicle to rise. At that point in time, he struck the mile marker sign and information sign, which ripped it off of its hinges, then continued moving forward and struck the Proctor Road overpass. Becoming wedged in between not only the bridge but the roadway itself," Watson said. "There's a power variable within these trucks that will divert power from the engine to the back of the truck, allowing it to lift its load. This was engaged apparently without the driver knowing this and that is why when he was operating the vehicle, it began to lift up as if it was dumping its load. Unfortunately, he did not realize this until it was too late."

Gravel from the truck's load spilled across the outer two lanes of northbound I-75 from the mile 205 northbound on-ramp to the Proctor Road overpass. One lane of northbound I-75 remained open, though traffic was backed up for several miles. A trooper remained on scene to monitor the structural stability of the bridge while crews worked to remove the wedged vehicle.

No injuries were reported. "The Florida Highway Patrol feels we are very fortunate no one was injured in this crash," Watson said. "The violence of this crash, striking the bridge the way he did, losing the load the way he did could have caused major crashes throughout the area at the time of the event. That is the one thing we are grateful for is the minimum amount of traffic that is out at 5 a.m."

The driver faces pending charges related to not properly operating the motor vehicle and failing to ensure all engaged equipment was properly in place. It was unclear at the time of reporting when all lanes would reopen.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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