A major crash involving a trailer and freight truck early Tuesday left one of the drivers dead and sent two other people to the hospital, where they are in stable condition.

The crash, which sheared the 18-wheeler in half, happened on Okeechobee Road at Northwest 112th Court.

A loaded 1987 Peterbilt truck trailer was traveling south on 112th Court when an eastbound freight truck on Okeechobee Road collided with the rear of the Peterbilt truck.

The freight truck was engulfed in flames and more than 37,000 pounds of sugar poured across the road, shutting down the highway.

The driver of the freight truck, Baltazar Salazar of Immokalee, ended up in a nearby canal and apparently drowned. It is unknown if Salazar was ejected from the crash or if he was trying to escape from the fire.

The Department of Environmental Resources Management contained the scene, allowing the road to open by 1 p.m. “There was a major delay but we did a good job diverting the traffic,” said FHP spokesman Jose Sanchez.