FHP trooper escapes 5-car turnpike pileup that crushed cruiser

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper narrowly escaped being crushed in a five-car pileup on Florida’s Turnpike in Orange County last week.

On Sept. 19, FHP was investigating a crash in the northbound lanes of the turnpike south of State Road 417 in Orlando.

The crash began as a semi-truck driven by a 59-year-old man from Minnesota was traveling north on the turnpike. He tried to change lanes to the left and sideswiped a Toyota Camry driven by a 17-year-old from St. Cloud, according to an FHP report.

A Dodge Ram, driven by a 20-year-old man from Port. St. Lucie, was behind the semi-truck and Camry.

He tried to avoid the crash but overturned and crashed into an FHP cruiser that was parked and stationary on the outside shoulder.

A trooper was standing outside the car and managed to get out of the way.

The Ram collided with a barrier before going down an embankment, according to officials.

The impact between the Ram and the trooper’s car pushed the trooper’s car into the travel lanes, where it collided with a Buick Enclave driven by a 65-year-old Miami man.

First responders took the trooper and the Dodge Ram driver to the hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

None of the other drivers were harmed in the crash.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/23/fhp-trooper-escapes-5-car-turnpike-pileup-that-crushed-cruiser/