A stretch of Interstate 4 in Orange County was shut down for hours this morning as police investigated “suspicious circumstances” that led to a traffic homicide.
Orlando Police Department homicide detectives began investigating a homicide near the Orange Blossom Trail exit along I-4 East early this morning. The highway was closed at John Young Parkway for hours before reopening just past 10:30 a.m. The express lanes remained open during that time.
The investigation slowed traffic during the normally bustling morning hours. Police issued statements reassuring the public of the severity of their investigation.
“We understand the inconvenience to our community with having I-4 shut down due to this incident. Based on the suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident, our Homicide Detectives are working with our Traffic Homicide investigators to make sure we collect all the evidence,” reads a statement issued by OPD on social media.
Police described the scene as having a “large scale and size,” that required them to wait for daylight so as not to miss any details.
Before 9:30 a.m., authorities reported that they hoped to have the highway reopened within the hour.
Authorities have since stated that they have cleared the highway and will send further details regarding the homicide in the coming hours.