Early morning commuters traveling through Lake County are facing significant delays on Thursday morning after a pair of crashes, including a multi-vehicle collision with reported injuries, have left roadblocks on both sides of Florida’s Turnpike near Leesburg.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the first multi-vehicle crash occurred on the southbound side of Florida’s Turnpike/State Road 91, stretching from just before Mile Marker 293 down to Mile Marker 290. Dispatch records indicate that the collision involved injuries and was initially reported at 4:38 a.m.
The incident forced officials to block the right southbound lane, creating a bottleneck for early travelers. The Florida Department of Transportation indicated that the right lane remained blocked as of its 6:30 a.m. update.
The situation on the highway was further complicated by a second vehicle crash that occurred on the northbound side of the highway.
That collision, which also took place near Mile Marker 290 in the Leesburg area, was reported to authorities at 6:32 a.m. and resulted in an additional roadblock.
Dispatch records indicate that the northbound lanes were already in the process of being reopened to traffic just minutes after the initial report.
Motorists navigating the turnpike through Lake County this morning are advised to exercise caution and anticipate lingering delays as emergency personnel work to clear the remaining southbound vehicles and debris. Drivers may want to seek alternate routes if their commute takes them through the affected area near Leesburg.