Multiple Accidents On I-75 South Of Gainesville, 9 Killed

[ApogeeNow]

Some of the pictures are horrifying.
Sad.

http://www.baynews9.com/article/news...of-Gainesville

At least 9 dead after multiple I-75 crashes south of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE --
Investigators are looking into the possibility an arsonist set the fire that caused smoke that led to the deaths of at least nine people in a
series of overnight crashes on I-75 near Gainesville.

According to Florida Highway Patrol officials, the crashes appeared to be caused by the combination of heavy smoke from the fire
and fog reducing visibility on the interstate.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Patrick Riordan said the pileups happened about 3:45 a.m. on both sides of I-75.

A dozen injured people are being treated at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, a spokesperson said.
Six patients were admitted through the hospital's Level I Trauma Center.

None of the victims have been identified and the conditions of those all being treated have not been released.

All lanes of the interstate are still closed between Mile Markers 374 and 382 in Alachua County.

State forestry spokeswoman Ludie Bond said that the fire started Saturday.
Officials know it wasn't a controlled burn or caused by lightning, so it was either started
accidentally or intentionally set.

Smoke from the fire mixed with fog to cause multi-vehicle pileups on Interstate 75 early Sunday that killed at least nine people.

Bond said the fire has burned 62 acres of prairie and is contained, but it continues to burn.
She said a similar fire has been burning in the area since mid-November because the vegetation is so thick and deep.

Riordan says FHP had closed the highway briefly overnight because of the mixture of smoke and fog in the Paynes Prairie area.
It was reopened shortly before the crashes occurred.

The crashes involved four to five large commercial vehicles and at least six passenger vehicles.

Riordan says U.S. 441 is also closed, and traffic is being diverted onto U.S. 301 and State Road 27.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

[Speedfreak72]

Wow thats sad. That truck was on top of that other car. I hate to see stuff like that.

[DaytonaBlue]

Damn!!!

[camel]

Not as bad but the same thing, fires/fog led to a pile up on I-4 a couple of years ago.

Great. I start driving back and forth to G-ville for a year starting tomorrow for a year. Hopefully this shit stops. I-75 was so much better to drive on than I-4.

[TriumphChris675]

there was one on the skyway a few years ago that was pretty bad too, i just dont get it, fog/smoke... hazard lights and slow the hell down, or get off the friggin road.

[misscbr]

RIP to all the victims of this huge accident.

I start driving back and forth to G-ville for a year starting tomorrow for a year. Hopefully this shit stops. I-75 was so much better to drive on than I-4.

Be careful on your drives

[ianjoub]

I came south into thew after affects of that last night.... had to detour to US27... That was at 6 pm.

[echoraven]

there was one on the skyway a few years ago that was pretty bad too, i just dont get it, fog/smoke... hazard lights and slow the hell down, or get off the friggin road.

Trying to explain this type of common sense to the average cager is like trying to teach a mentally challenged canine how to pilot the space shuttle. Technically possible, but not bloody likely...

[Tiphanid]

Not as bad but the same thing, fires/fog led to a pile up on I-4 a couple of years ago.

Great. I start driving back and forth to G-ville for a year starting tomorrow for a year. Hopefully this shit stops. I-75 was so much better to drive on than I-4.

I thought I heard the new saying last night this was worse than I4 in 2008... I believe I heard this is the worst in FL history... :sad1:

Never good... RIP for those taken, hope for those injured and the lives changed of friends and loved ones...


SUX!

Sent from MY EPIC

[ApogeeNow]

I thought I heard the new saying last night this was worse than I4 in 2008... I believe I heard this is the worst in FL history... :sad1:

Never good... RIP for those taken, hope for those injured and the lives changed of friends and loved ones...


SUX!

Sent from MY EPIC

There were more cars in the accident(s), [80 cars I think] on I-4 four years ago, but only 4 fatalities.
These accidents on I-75 had less vehicles involved, but 10 fatalities.
It is very sad, some even burned to death.

[Creepy]

that sucks

[Tiphanid]

There were more cars in the accident(s), [80 cars I think] on I-4 four years ago, but only 4 fatalities.
These accidents on I-75 had less vehicles involved, but 10 fatalities.
It is very sad, some even burned to death.

Gotcha.

[ianjoub]

there was one on the skyway a few years ago that was pretty bad too, i just dont get it, fog/smoke... hazard lights and slow the hell down, or get off the friggin road.

Trying to explain this type of common sense to the average cager is like trying to teach a mentally challenged canine how to pilot the space shuttle. Technically possible, but not bloody likely...

Apparently you all don't realize that it is illegal to drive with your hazards on in FL....