Chain-reaction crash sparks fire on I-95 in Boca Raton

Crash forces closure of I-95 in both directions for hours

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 that sparked a fire in Boca Raton closed the highway in both directions for several hours Monday.

The crash occurred in the southbound lanes just south of Glades Road.

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According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a vehicle believed to be a tractor-trailer was attempting to change lanes when it struck the left side of a 1998 Honda Accord driven by Eartha Smith, 36, of Hallandale Beach. Smith lost control of her car and was struck by a 2004 Ford sport utility vehicle driven by Sabrina Wilcox, 33, of Coconut Creek.

Smith's car then crashed through a fence and struck a power pole, causing it to break in half. The power lines dangled over the north and southbound lanes of I-95, sparking a fire.

Boca Raton firefighters arrived to find Smith's car fully engulfed in flames. However, Smith escaped and was taken to a hospital.

Firefighters kept the fire from spreading to the nearby railroad tracks.

Troopers said the driver of the tractor-trailer may have kept going, unaware of the crash.

Traffic was backed up for several miles in both directions as a result. Northbound traffic was diverted at Palmetto Park Road and southbound traffic was diverted at Glades Road.

I-95 was closed for hours while Florida Power & Light secured the high-voltage power lines downed in the crash. Frustrated drivers could be seen exiting I-95 by driving over the grassy embankments on the side of the highway.

All lanes eventually reopened by about 5:30 p.m.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash and have information about the tractor-trailer is asked to contact the FHP at 954-837-4012.

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