CNN.com and ABCnews.com report that poor visibility resulting from a nearby brush fire caused a series of fatal car and truck accidents in northern Florida early Sunday. According to the reports, accidents involving multiple passenger cars and at least five semi trucks on I-75, as well as on nearby U.S. Highway 441 near Gainesville, left 10 people dead. Heavy smoke from a marsh fire at nearby Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, coupled with early-morning fog and darkness, left motorists with limited visibility. The ABC report, citing officials in the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department, states that both I-75 and U.S. 441 had been temporarily closed prior to the accidents due to low visibility, but were later reopened. According to CNN, the accidents involved at least 12 passenger cars and about seven semi trucks; ABC reports that five large commercial vehicles and six to eight passenger cars were involved.
TRUCK ACCIDENT FAST FACT: According to TruckInfo.net, commercial trucks are involved in 2.4% of all car accidents.
(Photo credit: Matt Stamey / The Gainesville Sun / AP Photo)
