Author Archives: Jay Butchko
“240 Exploding Propane Tanks” Cause Turnpike Fire
An unusual accident closed lanes on Florida’s Turnpike in early January 2026, as around 240 “venting and exploding” propane tanks caused a fire that sent a commercial truck completely up in flames. Florida’s Highway Patrol confirmed that there were no casualties, and the tractor-trailer driver was unhurt – but it is easy to imagine… Read More »
Commercial Vehicle Strikes & Kills Traffic Worker Near Mims
In late December 2025, a traffic worker was killed when a commercial truck struck his vehicle near Mims. The worker had been in a CMTI truck – a type of service vehicle with a screen to help manage the flow of traffic, using arrows to direct vehicles around an accident or other blockage –… Read More »
Woman Hurt After ‘Piece of Metal’ Falls Off Tractor-Trailer
In October 2025, a woman driving on Florida’s Turnpike was seriously injured when a piece of metal that fell off a tractor-trailer went through her windshield. While an investigation into the accident is still ongoing as of this writing, it raises interesting questions for both drivers and their attorneys – namely, is it foreseeable… Read More »
What Counts As A Commercial Vehicle?
There are a lot of large trucks and other vehicles on Florida roads at any given moment, but the average person may not be aware that not all of them qualify legally as commercial motor vehicles. While a vehicle may be used in intra- or interstate commerce, it may not legally fall under the… Read More »
Tractor-Trailer Turns Into Path Of Motorcyclist
Tractor-trailer accidents can lead to severe injuries and fatalities, and the odds of being injured or killed in this type of crash are unfortunately higher when one is riding a motorcycle. In November 2025, a young motorcyclist was killed in Tampa when a tractor-trailer attempted to turn left from US-41 onto 16th Avenue South…. Read More »
Don’t Talk To (Almost) Anyone After A Commercial Vehicle Accident
After an accident with a commercial vehicle, the average person is likely in shock, and often, in physical pain. It can be easy to stumble through the aftermath in a fog – but this is also the time in which drivers make the most mistakes in terms of dealing with insurers and their claims…. Read More »
Palm Beach Gardens Railroad Crossing Crash Kills 1
In mid-November 2025, one person was killed and one person was injured after an Amtrak train struck a dump truck at a junction in Palm Beach Gardens. While law enforcement has not released information on the individuals affected, it is reasonable to surmise that the deceased person may be the truck’s driver. Whomever the… Read More »
The Possibility Of Autonomous Commercial Trucks
The hubbub around driverless cars has been higher than ever in recent years. Though these vehicles are not truly autonomous, their potential to take on some of the burden for human workers has kept the idea relevant. It follows, then, that autonomous commercial trucks might be on the horizon. Drivers nowadays must share the… Read More »
Tampa Has Higher Than Average Rate Of Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Recent data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) show a disturbing trend affecting Hillsborough County drivers: namely, that the area has a higher-than-average rate of commercial vehicle and large truck accidents than nearby counties. If you drive often in the Tampa area, it is important to be aware of… Read More »
Crash Involving 3 Tractor-Trailers Kills 1, 1 In Critical Condition
In early December 2025, Florida’s Turnpike saw a serious accident that killed one person and left another in critical condition. Two tractor-trailers heading south in Osceola County began to stop for traffic, but a third failed to notice the slowdown and plowed into the back of one of the tractor-trailers. The second vehicle then… Read More »
