Unexpected Delay On Florida’s Turnpike Stops Traffic

Traffic on Florida’s Turnpike wasn’t moooooving at all for several hours Monday after a cattle hauler caught fire, leaving dozens of cows blocking the roadway, according to authorities.

The hauler’s semi-cab caught fire just before noon near St. Cloud, south of Orlando, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

The driver, a 47-year-old Alabama man, pulled the truck over to the turnpike’s outside shoulder, and opened the cattle trailer door, allowing about 70 cows to escape the smoke and flames.

The local fire department extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported. The cattle hauler was towed from the scene.

Florida’s Turnpike was closed in both directions and traffic was diverted for nearly four hours as officials dealt with the fire and rounded up the cows.

Officials did not immediately say what caused the truck fire.