Gulf of Mexico Drive reopens after accident in construction area

Gulf of Mexico Drive reopened for both directions of traffic around 8:10 a.m. on Thursday after an accident earlier in the morning caused a temporary closure. 

The accident occurred around 5:15 a.m., according to Tina Adams, the town's fire administration manager and public information officer. 

Adams said a flatbed semi-truck heading north attempted to pull onto GMD and collided with a white pickup truck stopped near the roadway. The collision pinned the pickup truck against the concrete construction barrier and temporarily trapped the driver. 

Although it was initially reported that crews would need to extricate the driver from the vehicle, when Longboat Key Fire Rescue crews arrived on scene, the driver was able to be removed from the vehicle through another door. 

No injuries were reported, according to Adams. 

This accident caused a temporary closure due to the semi-truck needing to be towed. Around 5:25 a.m., the town of Longboat Key posted on its social media that GMD was closed at Sloop Lane in both directions, and traffic would be diverted through Longboat Club Road. 

The next update at 7 a.m. indicated crews were still at work removing the semi-truck, but by 8:10 a.m., GMD reopened and the town’s social media post cautioned people to drive safely.

The accident occurred in the construction site of the town’s Country Club Shores turn lane project, which is expected to complete major roadway construction in May.