Driver believed to have shot self in fatal Palmetto Expressway crash, MDSO says

A driver behind the wheel of a pickup truck died after crashing into a concrete barrier wall and landing on the Palmetto Expressway in Miami-Dade where they collided with another vehicle, authorities said.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene, and said “detectives are confident that this case was a suicide by the driver of the pickup truck.”

The deadly crash happened before 6:30 a.m. and shut down all lanes for hours, prompting air rescue to land on the expressway on Friday morning.

MDSO said the pickup was traveling eastbound on Northwest 54th Street when it “continued through the intersection and collided with a concrete barrier wall.”

The pickup then went over the barrier and entered the southbound lanes of the Palmetto Expressway, where it crashed into another vehicle near Northwest 36th Street.

The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said their identity would be released later, as the family is with detectives.

The driver of the second vehicle suffered unspecified injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where they are in stable condition, officials said.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the emergency call “came in as a traffic accident involving entrapment.” Rescue units responded and worked to extricate the patients, officials said.

Traffic cameras captured several first responders blocking all lanes as they worked the scene. Video also showed a rescue helicopter landing on the roadway.

The footage also appeared to show a body covered in a yellow tarp.

Lanes reopened by 1 p.m.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.