MIAMI SHORES, FLA. (WSVN) - A Miami Shores Boy Scout troop narrowly avoided disaster along the Florida Turnpike when the car they were riding in was involved in a fiery crash with a semi-truck just south of Orlando, leaving two people with minor injuries.
Florida Highway Patrol and Okeechobee County Fire Rescue units responded to the scene along the southbound lanes near the Fort Drum Service Plaza, just after 11:30 a.m., Saturday.
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Miami said there were seven Boy Scouts from Troop 305 based out of Saint Rose of Lima and four adults in the car. Officials said they were returning home from a camping trip at the time.
Cellphone video posted to Twitter showed a semi-truck fully engulfed in flames along with a car as dark smoke billowed into the sky.
The fire was so intense than onlookers in the video commented on the heat.
A 7News source said the troop ran from the car, and two minutes later the truck exploded.
Officials said one adult and one child suffered minor injuries.
“One of the Scouts was hurt, and one of the Scout leaders was hurt, but not seriously,” said Scott Smith, whose son, a Boy Scout, was in the car but was not hurt.
They taken to an Orlando-area hospital for treatment and were soon released.
Parents said panic set in when they first received the call about the crash.
“Whenever you get that initial call — your son, their friend — you’re worried,” said Smith, “but you’re relieved when you hear nobody was hurt seriously.”
Boy Scouts of America spokesperson Jeff Berger released a statement Saturday night that read in part, “We are thankful they have been released, and that no one else was injured. We greatly appreciate the first responders who assisted with this matter.”
The crash led authorities to shut down the southbound lanes of the roadway for hours while firefighters put out the flames and cleaned up.
7News cameras captured the group returning to Miami Shores, Saturday evening, as parents and loved ones were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. However, Sunday morning, FHP noted the car with the boy scouts was driving under the speed limit when the truck rear-ended them.
It remains unknown if either of the drivers will face any charges, as the investigation continues.
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