ORLANDO, Fla. – Northbound lanes of Florida's Turnpike have reopened after being closed Wednesday due to an two-vehicle crash.
At least one person died in the crash late Wednesday morning on the Turnpike in Orange County, prompting officials to close the highway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said a male was killed in the two-vehicle crash, which occurred just before 11 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Turnpike near South Orange Blossom Trail.
According to the FHP, witnesses said a van was driving in reverse in the northbound lanes when a tractor-trailer suddenly changed lanes to avoid crashing into the vehicle. A pickup truck behind the big rig, though, struck the van, which burst into flames, the FHP report said.
The driver of the van was found dead in a back seat of the vehicle after the fire was extinguished, troopers said. His identity is not yet known, troopers said.
The driver of the pickup, Oscar Salazar, 34, of Apopka, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.