Truck collision sends live fish onto Florida highway

Hundreds of live fish flopped onto a Florida highway after a tractor-trailer crash Friday morning. 

The fish flew through the air after a tractor-trailer rear-ended another on Interstate 4 near Orlando around 5.30am. 

Several bins filled with fish tanks ‘sloshed forward,’ when the flatbed truck carrying them hit the other vehicle Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes said. The crash happened as traffic ahead of the trucks slowed down. 

The fish flew through the air after a tractor-trailer rear-ended another on Interstate 4 near Orlando around 5.30am. Many that spilled onto the road were run over by passing vehicles

Montes says several hundred live tilapia and other fish spilled onto the road and other vehicles ran over them. 

The tilapia were from a farm in Clewiston and on their way to Brooklyn, according to WFTV.  

Troopers had to close two lanes of the road for several hours to clean up the ‘slimy situation’ she said.

Most of the fish who didn’t spill onto the road ended up dying a slower death because oxygen flow was cut off to their tanks when the truck stopped, officials said

Troopers had to close two lanes of the road for several hours to clean up the ‘slimy situation’ Montes said

The tilapia were from a farm in Clewiston and on their way to Brooklyn, according to WFTV

The incident report says 39-year-old truck driver Mayel Perez was ticketed for careless driving. He was taken to the hospital with a minor injury and his was reported to be fine.

He said that when he saw the brake lights in front of him he tried to stop, but because of foggy conditions his wheels started sliding. 

The other driver, David Plasky, 49, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.  

Most of the fish who didn’t spill onto the road ended up dying a slower death because oxygen flow was cut off to their tanks when the truck stopped, officials said.  

A car fire further down the highway and near a construction are was causing delays in the area.