The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Alachua County were closed this morning after a semi-truck traveled off the roadway, struck several trees, and dropped containers with chemicals in the area.
According to a preliminary report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident took place near mile marker 399 of I-75 earlier this morning.
Officials say a 46-year-old man from Summerville, South Carolina, was driving a semi-truck with two attached trailers at around 1:25 a.m. southbound on the interstate, around mile marker 391.
For “reasons to be determined,” the vehicle traveled off the roadway and onto the west shoulder of the highway, where the truck struck several trees.
The vehicle came to final rest facing south and one of the trailers overturned onto its let side.
During the accident, chemical containers in one of the trailers were damaged. As a result, FHP closed all southbound lanes “near the crash” to remove the materials.
“Until clean-up efforts are complete, all southbound traffic will be diverted off the Interstate at the 399 mm,” reads a statement from FHP.
The driver was transported to UF Shands Hospital with minor injuries, according to the FHP report.
UPDATE: As of 1 p.m., one lane has been reopened for southbound traffic.