Overturned semi dumps nearly 80,000 lbs of trash on ramp

A tractor-trailer carrying about garbage overturned as it was driving on the Turnpike southbound ramp from Interstate 4, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

FHP said the driver of the tractor-trailer lost control on the ramp and overturned onto the southbound Turnpike exit ramp, dumping nearly 80,000 pounds of garbage onto the exit ramp.

• Slideshow: Truck overturns, spills garbage on turnpike ramps

Some of the debris struck a passenger vehicle and caused minor damage.

The driver of the truck, 43-year-old Jose Morales of Apopka, was cited for speeding and traveling too fast for conditions, according to FHP.

The southbound Turnpike exit to I-4 and the I-4 entrance to the southbound Turnpike were closed due to the incident, but have since reopened.

Troopers said Morales is an independent contractor for Stafford Trucking in Orlando, and he picked up the garbage Tuesday morning from a landfill in Sanford.

"Jose, what happened?" WFTV reporter Daralene Jones asked.

"It was a blow out on the tire," Morales replied.

Troopers said Morales told them the truck blew a front tire.

However, FHP officials said he took the curve too fast and his tire was damaged when he lost control and hit that median.

Officials said they weren't able to determine how fast Morales was driving, but they do know he was traveling faster than 25 miles per hour, which is required on the sharp curve.

"We had something similar to this last year where a semi took a turn too fast and ended up landing on top of a car and killing two people. The driver had a valid CDL license," said Jorge Delahoz of the Florida Highway Patrol said.

FHP said no one was injured in the crash.