Shell shock! Bizarre moment when TURTLE causes a huge traffic jam crossing the road in Florida after the driver suddenly braked to avoid running over it
- The driver of a pickup truck traveling on US 331 near DeFuniak Springs caused a pileup on Tuesday after he stopped to help a turtle crossing the road
- Cars slammed on the brakes, but an 18-wheel truck couldn’t stop suddenly and crashed into other cars at the intersection
- No one was seriously injured in the crash, which is being investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol: the turtle also survived unharmed
A 34-year-old driver caused a massive congestion on a Florida highway Tuesday morning when he stopped his pickup truck to save a turtle.
The incident happened on US 331 near DeFuniak Springs, 50 miles north of Panama City.
The pickup driver got out of his truck to rescue the reptile.
At least six cars stopped behind him, but an 18-wheel truck driving behind him could not stop in time and began crashing into the cars.
The truck then swerved and landed on the median, blocking two lanes of traffic.
To the left of his vehicle is the 34-year-old driver of a black pick-up truck, who has stopped to save a turtle (circled)
The 18-wheel truck from which this footage was taken failed to stop in time
Remarkably, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said no one was seriously injured — and the turtle was unharmed.
Sheriffs shared dashcam footage of the crash, filmed by the 36-year-old truck driver.
They warned against hard braking to help wildlife.
“We can all do better to protect the wildlife and natural inhabitants of our great state,” they wrote on Facebook.
“Residents and visitors alike should marvel at the many species that call Florida home.
“Just preferably not in the middle of the road.”
The truck driver is seen swerving to avoid other vehicles, and the man outside his truck. The turtle is circled in red
The driver eventually left the road and crossed the median: no one was seriously injured
Social media users praised the lorry driver’s skills, who managed to avoid crashing directly into cars.
The sheriffs added, “Although not maliciously, trying to avoid or assist an animal that has stumbled onto a busy road could cause life-threatening injury to you or other drivers.”
“So if you’re faced with this predicament in the future and you ask, ‘Do evade or don’t evade’ or ‘Stop and protect’, we hope the answer is now obvious.”
They concluded, ‘Be safe out there. We’re here if you need us.’