Sharks Crash on Interstate: Weird Florida 2015

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in June 2015. It is part of our ongoing look at some of the strangest headlines out of Florida this year.

While many people are familiar with the Hollywood creation “Snakes on a Plane” chances are most haven’t heard about sharks on a road.

That’s essentially what happened in real life Wednesday (June 10) when a truck transporting four sharksfrom Marathon to the New York Aquarium on Coney Island crashed on Interstate 95 in Volusia County. It seems the tractor-trailer transporting the creatures had a tire blowout that forced the vehicle off the road.

The wreck, which happened just after 2 p.m., claimed the life of a 5-foot sandbar shark when its tank was damaged in the crash, Local 10 reported. The people involved in the crash were not injured.

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The remaining sharks were recovered by SeaWorld rescuers who jumped in to help, the Orlando theme park confirmed. The sandbar sharks were put into new tanks and taken to the Florida attraction for care until transport to New York can be arranged.

“The animals are currently stable and are doing well,” said Jim Kinsler Aquarium Assistant Curator for SeaWorld Orlando. “The rescue team and our aquarists are continuing around the clock care for each shark as long as needed to ensure their health and success.”

Sandbar sharks are commonly found in Florida’s waters and prefer depths that range from 60 to 200 feet, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports. They are both predators and scavenger and grow to a length of about 6 feet.

Image courtesy of SeaWorld Orlando