Granite Slabs Break Into Pieces During Fiery I-95 Crash

By  //  April 29, 2013

Road Closed For Hours From Accident

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Traffic northbound on Interstate-95 into Brevard County was completely shut down for several hours Monday as a semi truck hauling granite slabs crashed and rolled over just south of Malabar. 

FHP-180Sgt. Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol said Jorge Chang of Port St. Lucie, 42, was driving north on I-95 in the outside lane near mile marker 163 south of Malabar about 6:05 a.m. Monday in a 2003 Semi truck and was hauling a large amount of of granite slabs.

Montes said at the same time a 2011 Chevy Suburban driven by Randy Burmester of Royal Palm Beach, 59, was driving north near the semi truck in the inside lane.

For some unknown reason, Chang’s semi truck left the roadway and traveled onto the east unpaved shoulder and overturned partially on the roadway and shoulder.

Montes said as Burmester slowed his vehicle because of the rollover, a 2003 Mitsubishi Gallant driven by Isaac Louizor of Fort Pierce, 40, struck the rear of the Suburban.

The semi truck slid on its roof on the grass shoulder and came to rest facing north. It caught on fire and was extinguished by a passing motorist.

The granite slabs came to rest on the grass shoulder broken into pieces, according to Montes.

All drivers escaped the accident without injuries.

Chang was ticketed by FHP troopers for careless driving.

After a cleanup of several hours, I-95 northbound was re-opened to traffic by 10:45 a.m.