OVERTURNED TRUCK SPILLS OIL & SNARLES TRAFFIC

A TAMPA MAN WAS CITED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT SNARLED TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE TUESDAY MORNING.  THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS 37 YEAR OLD RAYMOND PADILLA WAS SOUTHBOUND IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN THE HARBORVIEW ROAD AND KINGS HIGHWAY EXITS JUST AFTER 7AM WHEN HE VEERED ONTO THE LEFT SHOULDER.  PADILLA OVER CORRECTED AND ROTATED TO THE RIGHT, WHICH FORCED THE TRACTOR-TRAILER TO ROLL ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE AND SLIDE ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE.  PADILLA LOST HIS CARGO OF MOTOR OIL, BUT FORTUNATELY MOST OF THAT SPILLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND GRASS AREA.  THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CALLED IN HOFFER AND ASSOCIATES TO CLEAN UP THE SPILL, WHICH TOOK MORE THAN AN HOUR.  TRAFFIC WAS REDUCED TO ONE LANE DURING THE RUSH HOUR BEFORE A WRECKER COULD REMOVE THE TRUCK FROM THE ROADWAY.  PADILLA WAS TAKEN TO THE CHARLOTTE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WITH MINOR INJURIES AND WAS CITED BY TROOPERS FOR CARELESS DRIVING.