The chaotic scene along Florida’s I-95 interstate in Volusia County was surreal, early Thursday morning. Three are reported dead, so far, following an intense explosion and at least one entrapment incident, as 15 vehicles including big-rig tractor trailers were involved in two related pile ups. The crashes happened in both directions of travel.
Chaotic scene in Florida
Things got totally chaotic on a Florida freeway Thursday morning, March 3. It started with a controlled burn but an early morning “super fog” event coupled with the smoke to bring visibility on the well traveled expressway down to zero in both directions.
Three people are reported dead along with “several others hurt.” The pileup happened near the town of Edgewater.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, “at least 15 vehicles, including several tractor-trailers, were involved in chaotic crashes on both sides of the highway near the State Road 442 exit.”
Take a look at this fiery footage and the aftermath. Two big rigs slammed into each other on NB I95 at SR 442. Diesel fuel spill likely caused of fire and explosion. “Super fog” caused the crash. A mix of fog and smoke from a controlled burn in Volusia Co. Watch @WFTV for more. https://t.co/ZuKjOyx5bM pic.twitter.com/CGXYle9Smu
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) March 3, 2022
Four of those crashes were on the northbound side, “killing one person.” The other two “died in the crash on I-95 south.” One child, FHP relates, “was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, and an unknown number of victims were taken to Halifax Health.” Other children are reported among the victims.
Travel in both directions has been closed, adding to the chaotic disruption. Detours are being routed between State Road 44 and Deering Parkway and the closures are expected to drag into the afternoon.
Police recommend avoiding the area altogether if possible. Videos are making the rounds of one dramatic rescue of a trapped and endangered motorist.
Fire and explosion
The worst of the chaotic events happened as two diesel big rigs “slammed into each other” on the northbound side. As police explain, a spill of diesel fuel “likely caused” the explosive fireball.
Miami Herald reports that the “incident unfolded at around 1:30 a.m.” and it’s clear from the videos that “visibility was severely impacted due to fog and a controlled burn in the area.” They also report that the child airlifted is reported to be in “stable” condition.
The total number of injured hasn’t been tallied yet but “a number have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.”
*** MAJOR TRAFFIC ALERT – SHUTDOWN ***
Multiple vehicles/Multiple fatalities – #Brevard/#Volusia
– NB I-95 shutdown at 231MM (SR-5a Mims)
– SB I-95 shutdown at SR-44 (Volusia)
– THIS WILL BE CLOSED FOR HOURS POSSIBLY INTO THE AFTERNOON pic.twitter.com/rJzw50icdb— “Trooper Steve” Montiero (@TrooperSteve_) March 3, 2022
Highway patrol held a press conference after the sun came up to confirm the number of vehicles involved in the chaotic crashes and the three fatalities. As reported by WFTV, one “red SUV involved in the southbound crash was towing a motorcycle at the time.”
This particular vehicle seems to have taken the brunt of the chaotic violence, becoming sandwiched between the two tractor-trailers which exploded. The driver was one of those killed in the crash.
The National Weather Service is scrambling to explain that a “super fog” forms when “a mixture of smoke and moisture released from damp smoldering organic material such as brush, leaves and trees, mixes with cooler, nearly saturated air.” As happened this morning, visibility gets cut down to less than 10 feet, making it exceptionally “dangerous when present over highways.” This isn’t the first pileup it’s caused.
