Drivers on eastbound Interstate 4 faced a grueling commute Friday afternoon when a routine traffic stop near Lake Mary escalated into a full-scale investigation of a potential explosive device. The Florida Highway Patrol shut down all eastbound lanes near mile marker 101 for over an hour as authorities worked to clear a white semi-truck stopped on the shoulder.
The incident began after law enforcement received a tip claiming a commercial truck driver had made threats involving bombs inside his vehicle. Troopers located the truck and pulled it over, immediately taking the driver into custody.
To ensure public safety, FHP called in specialized units to sweep the vehicle. “In an abundance of caution, we requested resources from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office to clear the vehicle,” the Florida Highway Patrol stated in a release.
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Aerial footage from the scene showed a massive line of stopped traffic stretching back several miles, with deputies eventually seen turning vehicles around on highway entrance ramps to alleviate the gridlock.
On the ground, officials were observed leading a detection dog to the rear of the semi-truck to sniff for hazardous materials.
The standoff lasted until nearly 5:00 p.m., when the truck was finally towed, and the lanes were cleared for travel. Despite the response, investigators confirmed that no explosives were found inside the vehicle.
The driver has been identified as 49-year-old Kelvin Harp of Clarksville, Tennessee. Harp was booked into the Seminole County Jail on Friday evening. He now faces serious legal consequences, including charges for making a written or electronic threat to kill and threatening to discharge an explosive device.
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