Morning commutes are usually just about bad coffee and podcasts. But today was different for drivers in South Florida. If you were heading toward the city early this morning, you probably saw the blue lights or felt the crawl of traffic. There was a bad accident on the turnpike today that has everyone talking, mostly because of how dramatic the scene actually was near Sweetwater.
Basically, a car ended up in a canal.
It happened just before 6:40 a.m. near Northwest 12th Street. Imagine driving in heavy fog—which was definitely a factor this morning—and suddenly losing the road. The car went off the northbound ramp leading to the Florida Turnpike. When first responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived, they didn't just find a fender bender. They found tire tracks leading straight into the water.
Why Today’s Turnpike Crash Was So Intense
It wasn't just a simple slide. Divers had to be called in. When you see a dive team on your morning commute, you know things are serious. The Florida Highway Patrol and local crews spent hours at the scene. They were searching the submerged vehicle to make sure no one else was trapped inside.
📖 Related: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
Honestly, the driver is lucky. One person managed to get out of the car and was rushed to a local hospital. We don’t have an official word on their condition yet, but surviving a plunge into a canal is no small feat. A Local 10 News crew captured the moment the car was finally winched out of the mud and water later in the morning. It was a mess.
Fog and the "Invisible" Danger
The weather was the big story here. Visibility was garbage. When the air gets that thick, the transition from the ramp to the main lanes of the turnpike becomes a guessing game. It's easy to misjudge a curve.
- Heavy fog blanketed the Sweetwater area around 6:00 a.m.
- The ramp south of Sweetwater is notoriously tricky when wet or slick.
- Rescue operations required specialized equipment, which is why the ramp was restricted for so long.
Other Trouble Spots on the Turnpike Today
While the canal crash was the headliner, it wasn't the only issue. Florida’s Turnpike has been a bit of a nightmare all morning. If you're looking at the live feeds, there was another crash in Broward near mile marker 68. That one blocked the right shoulder and kept traffic backed up for miles.
👉 See also: Will Palestine Ever Be Free: What Most People Get Wrong
Then you’ve got Miami-Dade. There was a crash near Exit 9 (Allapattah Road) and another headache on the ramp to Bird Road. It’s like a domino effect. One bad accident on the turnpike today causes people to slam on brakes miles back, leading to more "mini-accidents" or rubbernecking delays.
Traffic Breakdown by Region
- Miami-Dade: Northbound congestion is still heavy near SW 117th Avenue.
- Broward: Things are finally starting to move near mile marker 51, but it’s still "stop and go" at best.
- Osceola: Northbound lanes beyond mile marker 245 saw significant delays earlier following a separate congestion event.
What You Should Do If You're Caught in This
If you're still behind the wheel (hopefully not reading this while driving), patience is your only friend. The Sweetwater scene is clearing up, but the residual backup is real.
Kinda makes you want to stay home, right? If you have to be out there, the Florida Highway Patrol is leaning hard into the "Move Over" law. Just last month, a Miami-Dade deputy was critically injured in a crash while trying to help a trooper. These scenes are dangerous for the people in the cars and the people trying to save them.
✨ Don't miss: JD Vance River Raised Controversy: What Really Happened in Ohio
How to Handle a Highway Emergency
If you find yourself losing control on a ramp or near a canal, try to stay calm. If the car enters the water, your best bet is to open the window immediately before the electrical system shorts out. Pressure makes doors almost impossible to open until the car is fully submerged. It's terrifying to think about, but knowing it saves lives.
Actionable Steps for Your Drive Home
Don't let the bad accident on the turnpike today be a repeat for your evening commute.
Check the FHP Live Traffic Map before you leave the office. It’s updated every few minutes. Also, if the fog rolls back in—which it might—drop your speed by at least 10 or 15 mph. Being five minutes late is a lot better than ending up in a canal or a hospital bed.
Keep your eyes on the road and off your phone. Most of these "chain reaction" crashes happen because someone was looking at the accident in the other lane instead of the brake lights in front of them. Stay safe out there.