HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Rescue crews have responded to a fuel tanker that plunged into a canal after being involved in a crash along Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County.
7SkyForce HD flew above the scene as firefighters worked to treat the truck driver near Pines Boulevard, just before 7 a.m., Tuesday.
A silver Mercedes-Benz was also seen on the side of the highway with front and back-end damage.
7News spoke to a good Samaritan who heard the crash and jumped into the canal to make sure the driver was OK while rescue crews responded to the scene.
“I heard a loud thud and then a splash into the water, so I walked out, and I saw the tanker and the car, and the engine appeared to be smoking,” said 15-year-old Joshua Bell. “I saw the guy still in there, so instinctively I was like, ‘OK, I need to go and help that guy.’ I talked to him for a bit. We were talking about just random things, just trying to get him to stay awake and stay conscious and alert.”
Hollywood Fire Rescue crews were seen placing the driver on a rescue stretcher and bringing him to shore. He was transported to the hospital in with minor injuries.
The driver behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz was not injured. His brother said he was on his way to a radio show in Miami called “Cafe Latino” when the crash occurred.
“He was driving on the Turnpike going southbound and then the tanker just hit him from the back,” said Gary Brice, the crash victim’s brother. “When I talked to him, he said he was fine. Thank God he’s fine. The car is a total loss, but it’s fine.”
The totaled Mercedes-Benz was towed away, and crews started working on the removal of the tanker truck, which involves pumping out the fuel with firefighters on standby.
Bell added he might one day become a firefighter.
“When I grow up I wanna be a firefighter or paramedic, so really, I like to thank the firefighters for doing their job daily in dealing with car accidents and putting their lives in danger,” Bell said.
As of noon, crews are still working on removing the tanker from the canal. The fuel did not leak into the water.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.