You guys are aware of the huge crash in Florida, right???

[catnhatnh]

Just talked to my brother on the phone and saw the end of a film clip on CNN. Rte. 4 in Polk County near Lakeland and the Fantasy of Flight...At least 50 cars.A controlled burn jumped the fire line and cars crashed in the smoke...

[Sequoia]

1. I heard it was fog. But now....!! Very bad scene.

[catnhatnh]

3. Appearently some vehicles burned...

...and there's talk of the road being damaged.

[Scurrilous]

2. At least 50 cars in I-4 pileup

<snip>

"A series of multivehicle crashes with reported fatalities has closed a fog-covered, 14-mile stretch of Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa near Lakeland.

"We have everything you can think of out here," said Larry Coggins, Florida Highway Patrol spokesman. "We have vehicles on fire. Vehicles under vehicles, semis on top of vehicles, box trucks and moving vans on top of other box trucks and moving vans. You name it.

"And that is just what we can see," he said.

It is not one massive crash, rather a series of crashes along the strip, Coggins said. The first wreck happened about 5 a.m.

Visibility is at zero, Coggins said about 8:30 a.m. ``In some spots you cannot see the end of the hood of the patrol car.

The Associated Press, quoting Polk County officials, said three people have died in the crashes."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/372669.html

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. NBC afiliate channel 2 WESH Orlando link:

http://www.wesh.com/news/15009543/detail.html

"Polk Sheriff: I-4 Pileup 'Major Disaster'"

3 confirmed dead

Some pretty amazing images here - photo slideshow;
http://www.wesh.com/slideshow/news/15009685/detail.html

[DS1]

5. Good driving tip

If you can't see, pull over. Just because you can't see something, it doesn't mean it's not there.

[ailsagirl]

10. Amen. People don't adjust their speed when the weather is bad

AND people tailgate constantly so if you had to stop suddenly,
they won't have time to stop before demolishing the car in front
of them.

Driving isn't taken very seriously by a certain faction (which
seems to be growing all the time) IMO

It's a wonder more weren't killed.

[MissB]

6. CNN just showed it. Horrible scene.

You don't just keep driving when you can't see in front of you. You look for the safest way off the road, quickly.

[AndyA]

7. I used to live in Florida, and the worst accidents I've ever seen all happened in Florida.

I remember driving north on I-95 one evening, and it was a clear summer evening, about two hours before sunset. Suddenly, traffic started to slow, and I could see ahead on the south bound side a lot of flashing lights.

As I got closer, I saw at least 5-6 vehicles, one was what was left of a Mercedes, and one was an RV - not a little one - a big one. The entire side and roof of the RV was ripped open, its contents spread out all over the road.

All of the vehicles were mangled badly, and I could see at least three bloody bodies on stretchers. Not pretty.

Speed and inattention were to blame, if I recall correctly.

I also remember another fatal accident in Palm Beach county caused by a young debutante who was speeding at twice the posted speed limit. She was late for her tanning appointment. :eyes:

[LibertyLover]

8. Yeah, I read about it on a board

dedicated to Disney stuff. How awful for all involved.

[Vilis Veritas]

9. I-4 is a horrible commute even in good weather. n/t

[lpbk2713]

11. Link from Lakeland Ledger website ...

Link: http://www.theledger.com/article/20080109/BREAKING/956382924/1039


Three fatalities at last count.


Ed: I wonder who the bonehead was that said "Even though there has been a lot of fog
in the mornings lately let's start a controlled burn just to create some excitement."

[alfredo]

12. They showed an aerial view of the fire through the fog and smoke.

it was beautiful and horrifying.

[melm00se]

13. I remember being in OK

and there were signs along I-44 that says "Don't drive thru smoke"