Father, son rescued after 18-wheeler skids into pond by turnpike
What we know: A father and son were rescued from a partially submerged 18-wheeler in a retention pond near Florida’s Turnpike in Plantation Thursday morning, according to Plantation Fire Rescue.
The men work for Lanter, according to WSVN.
Fire-rescue said the men were not taken to the hospital. The driver, Ronnie Chambers, and his son are still recovering from the scare.
“Fire-rescue asked me can I touch the bottom and I said, ‘No, I’m sinking,’” Chambers told Local 10. “I’m looking at everything around thinking, ‘Oh my God, I hope there aren’t any gators.’”
Where this happened: Plantation, Lauderhill and Tamarac Fire Rescue crews responded to the turnpike’s southbound exit ramp at Sunrise Boulevard shortly after 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
By the time fire rescue arrived, they found the truck’s cab partially submerged, a Plantation spokesman said.
How it happened: The cause of the crash is still under investigation but Chambers told WSVN the tractor-trailer plowed into the pond after hydroplaning.
“It was raining and I felt my tractor-trailer hydroplaning, like the tires weren’t touching the ground itself,” Chambers told WSVN. “When I felt that little scoot, I tried to compensate and get it back and when I did, I overcompensated and this is where I ended up at.”
What it means for you: Roads in the area have since reopened.
Local news stations recorded the semi truck being pulled out of the pond by three tow trucks later Thursday.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 6:42 AM.
