One person was killed and another hospitalized after the box truck they were in crashed and was left dangling off the side of a South Florida highway overpass early Wednesday.
The incident occurred at5:25 a.m. on the State Road 84 westbound on-ramp from Interstate 95 in Fort Lauderdale.
WATCH: Video of the Dangling Truck
Two people were in the 2001 Isuzu Tracy Bakery truck when exited I-95 northbound and tried to make a left turn and head west on State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale Police Det. DeAnna Garcia said. It struck a barrier wall along the State Road 84 overpass, authorities said.
"As a result, the truck was suspended over the side of the overpass, partially off of the roadway," police said in a statement.
Somehow, the truck's front end was leaning against a pillar.
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Fire Rescue workers responded and secured the truck before sending up a ladder. Firefighters were able to pull the driver from the truck and walk him down the ladder, Garcia said.
The driver was transported to Broward Health Medical Center where he was in stable condition, Garcia said.
Hospital officials identified the driver as 43-year-old Buenaventura Fernandez, Jr., from Miami. He was treated for a small knee laceration and later released.
The passenger remained inside the truck and had been unresponsive, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesman Matt Little said.
VIDEO: Watch as the Driver is Pulled From the Truck
Three tow trucks were brought to the scene and were able to pull the truck back onto the overpass about an hour and a half after the crash.
The truck's passenger, who was not immediately identified, was later pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Garcia said the driver showed bravery in escaping the dangling truck.
"It appears that he's a very strong-willed and a very strong person mentally and physically to be able to overcome such a tragic accident and then to be able to walk himself down a very high ladder to safety," Garcia said.
Debris from the truck fell onto a car that was driving on I-95 below, but no one was injured, officials said.
A woman who answered the phone at Tracy Bakery said she doesn't know the people who were inside the truck or where they were going to or from when the crash happened.
The crash left the two right lanes to the State Road 84 on-ramp blocked and two northbound lanes of I-95 just south of State Road 84 closed and caused traffic delays in the area.
Florida Department of Transportation officials said the bridge was being inspected and the ramp would be closed periodically throughout Wednesday and Thursday as crews clean up the debris and repair the 10 feet of concrete barrier wall that was damaged.
Engineers are also inspecting the pavement and the column that was struck by the truck.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash, Garcia said. Anyone with information is asked to call Fort Lauderdale Police at 954-828-5754.
Check back with NBC6.com for updates.
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