Florida man faces drug charges after truck-train collision in Monroe County

A tractor-trailer rollover at a Monroe County railroad crossing escalated into a train derailment before sunrise, snarling road access and sending hazmat crews to Highway 83 North at Berner Loop while investigators sorted out how a drug arrest became a near-disaster.

Monroe County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 3 a.m. on May 6 to the crossing near Juliette Road and McCrackin Street after reports of an overturned tractor-trailer. Investigators said the driver, Kheino Bennett, 44, of Riviera Beach, Florida, told deputies he saw the crossing arm down and the lights flashing, then braked and steered in an attempt to avoid the train. The maneuver caused the semi to overturn and strike one of the railcars, triggering the derailment.

Bennett was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana less than an ounce, possession of drug-related objects, and operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid license or driving privileges. The crash and arrest left a damaged commercial vehicle at the crossing and a rail scene that quickly drew in Norfolk Southern and Monroe County Fire hazmat crews.

Preliminary findings indicated the overturned semi caused at least one train car to derail. Later reports said about six railcars came off the tracks, including one that fell onto a large propane tank. Another railcar reportedly carried lithium batteries, adding to the concern at the scene even though no injuries were reported and no hazardous materials leak was confirmed.

Highway 83 North at Berner Loop reopened after the incident, but Juliette Road at McCrackin Street remained closed for an extended period, forcing detours and disrupting traffic in Jones County. Drivers were redirected around the crossing as crews worked the wreckage and the rail line, a reminder of how quickly a roadway stop can turn into a countywide safety response when a truck meets a train.

The investigation remains ongoing.