PENSACOLA, June 19, 2021—An eastbound tractor trailer wound up on its side on Interstate 10 this morning during high wind and heavy rains after hitting three utility poles.
At the time of the accident, adverse weather conditions included heavy rainfall and wind gusts of 85 mph, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.
According to the release, the Freightliner, driven by a man from Georgia, was traveling in the middle lane on I-10 near mile marker 18 in Pensacola when it started drifting onto the south shoulder of the interstate where it hit two utility poles in succession.
The force from the second pole shifted the semi northeast onto the north shoulder where it overturned onto its left side and collided with the third pole.
The pole collapsed, turning the debris into projectiles that struck an SUV from Pensacola.
The semi driver suffered minor injuries. The driver of the SUV escaped unhurt, according to the release.

The FHP closed the Escambia Bay Bridge around 10:30 a.m. due to high winds.
Interstate traffic was rerouted to U.S. Highway 90 eastbound at mile marker 17 and westbound at mile marker 22 at Avalon Boulevard. The bridge reopened around noon today.
Santa Rosa Emergency Management reported a number of trees and power lines down across roadways throughout the Pace/Chumuckla area.