I-95 crash: Three killed in accident after 17 cars crash in pile-up amid ‘super fog’ event in Florida
At least three people are dead after more than a dozen vehicles crashed in a pileup on an interstate in Volusia County, Florida, according to local reports.
The Miami Herald reports that at least five crashes occurred on I-95 in in Edgewater, Florida. The incident unfolded at around 1.30am Thursday when visibility was severely impacted due to fog and a controlled burn in the area.
At least one semi truck was involved, according to authorities. One child was airlifted to hospital in stable condition, the Herald reported.
It is unclear how many people were injured in the crashes but a number have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Much of the blame for the crash has been placed on a “super fog” event in which smoke and moisture mix with cool air and drop visibility levels to less than 10ft.
I-95 remains closed in the vicinity of Edgewater, and the northbound lanes will need to be resurfaced before they can reopen.
Key Points
‘Super fog’ event believed to be cause of crash
Three dead, 17 cars involved in five crashes
I-95 closed north and southbound in Volusia Country Florida
At least three dead in series of pile-ups in Florida
14:14 , Oliver O'Connell
At least three people have died in a series of pile-ups along the I95 corridor in Florida in zero visibility conditions early on Thursday morning.
Authorities said smoke from a prescribed burn combined with fog to create a near blackout at 1.30am along the busy interstate in Volusia County.
Both north and southbound lanes saw multiple crashes at around 1.30am, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said on Thursday.
Zero visibility thought to be cause
14:19 , Oliver O'Connell
“What we now know happened is there was almost zero visibility in the area based on smoke and fog that had mixed together and visibility dropped to zero,” Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said on Thursday.
Four crashes in northbound lane, six vehicle pile-up southbound
14:24 , Oliver O'Connell
Spectrum News 13 reported four separate crashes involving 11 vehicles in the northbound lane, which resulted in one fatality and many injuries.
In the southbound lane, a six-vehicle pile-up involving four semi-trailers, an SUV and a van left two drivers dead, Florida Highway Patrol Lt Kim Montes said.
Several children were among the injured.
One of the semi-trucks caught fire, causing a huge fireball to erupt.
Early reporting showed fiery wreckage
14:30 , Oliver O'Connell
BREAKING: 3 crashes on I95 N & S in Volusia County
- 3 people are dead
- Several airlifted to hospital
One of the crashes was this semi truck. It caught fire and led to an explosion.@FHPOrlando investigating.
Details and alt routes on @WFTV. pic.twitter.com/ko7HusdeyU— Alexa Lorenzo (@ALorenzoTV) March 3, 2022
Daylight reveals extent of ‘super fog event’
14:35 , Oliver O'Connell
What is being termed a “super fog event” caused sharp drops in visibility leading to the 17 cars to crash in five separate incidents.
A remarkable daylight view of what @FHPOrlando says was zero visibility at 1:30am when 5 crashes occurred on I-95 overnight. 3 people dead. 17 cars involved. @QMcCrayWFTV has been live on the scene since 5am. @ALorenzoTV has had alternative routes since 4:30am on @WFTV pic.twitter.com/h5grRZXiZK
— Kirstin Delgado (@KirstinWFTV) March 3, 2022
Smoke from controlled burn contributing factor
14:45 , Oliver O'Connell
On Wednesday, the City of Edgewater’s Fire Department notified the public of a controlled burn west of the I-95 and said some smoke may be visible if the wind changes direction.
Authorities now believe smoke from the prescribed burn combined with fog to create the near blackout conditions at 1.30am along the busy interstate in Volusia County.
Everything we know so far
14:56 , Oliver O'Connell
Bevan Hurley reports on the massive pile-up event on I-95 in Florida.
Three dead in five-crash pile-up on I-95 caused by ‘prescribed burn’ smoke
Number of injured remains unknown
15:10 , Oliver O'Connell
An unknown number of people have been injured in the incident, with one child airlifted to hospital.
LATEST UPDATE FROM @FHPOrlando.
- 5 crashes, 3 dead
- 1 child airlifted to @APHospital. Stable
- Unknown how many rushed to @HalifaxHealth @QMcCrayWFTV on scene for us @WFTV. https://t.co/IBtmLmgHkZ pic.twitter.com/kEdaaFXv3E— Alexa Lorenzo (@ALorenzoTV) March 3, 2022
What is ‘super fog’?
15:20 , Oliver O'Connell
According to the National Weather Service, 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.
Visibility is lowered to less than 10 feet. Under light wind conditions, super fog meanders through low terrain areas such as creek beds or drainage ditches.
Super fog can be very dangerous when present over highways, and has been the cause of several large, multi-vehicle pileups.
15:35 , Oliver O'Connell
Three people were killed in multiple crashes on Interstate 95 during the early morning hours of Thursday in Volusia County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Get the latest here: https://t.co/RWIoIZwPR1 pic.twitter.com/Ol4jAlFWII— Spectrum News 13 (@MyNews13) March 3, 2022
Road closures
15:40 , Oliver O'Connell
I-95 northbound is closed at State Road 5A (mile marker 231) to State Road 442. Drivers can re-enter northbound I-95 at SR-442.
I-95 southbound is closed at State Road 44 (mile marker 249) to State Road 5A. Drivers can re-enter southbound at SR-5A.
State troopers said the southbound side will open first.
An emergency paving crew will repair the lanes once debris from the crash is removed.
The northbound lanes of I-95 were damaged in this morning's crashes and will have to be repaved. A crew is on stand-by and will complete the emergency repair. No exact timetable set. Northbound is closed at SR 442. Southbound is closed at SR 44. Watch for detours.
— Hometown News Volusia (@HVolusi) March 3, 2022
Extent of incident revealed in daylight
16:00 , Oliver O'Connell
The extent of the incident became apparent when day broke - the crashes happened at approximately 1.30am.
A daylight look at the wreckage of the tractor trailers that exploded in this morning’s crash on I-95 in Volusia County #WESH pic.twitter.com/zHF4yxZSwQ
— Bob Hazen WESH (@HazenWESH) March 3, 2022
16:15 , Oliver O'Connell
ABC affiliate WFTV9′s Q McCray reports that a red SUV involved in the southbound crash was towing a motorcycle at the time.
The SUV was sandwiched between two tractor-trailers, and the driver was killed in the crash.
16:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Spectrum News 13’s Eric Mock says the Interstate may not reopen until well into the afternoon or early evening.
As sunlight burns away the fog, you can see just how destructive these wrecks were. In the second picture one person died and a child was air lifted to the hospital. I95 is expected to be shut down well into the afternoon and maybe even early evening. @MyNews13 @MyNews13Traffic pic.twitter.com/aI0dlT06eE
— Eric Mock (@EricMockTV) March 3, 2022
Florida Highway Patrol gave a press conference earlier
16:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Not long after 7am when the light had improved, Florida Highway Patrol gave a press conference confirming the number of vehicles and fatalities.
Latest from @FHPOrlando on this multi car wreck that’s killed 3 people and shut down miles of I95. @MyNews13 @MyNews13Traffic pic.twitter.com/NriecT6En8
— Eric Mock (@EricMockTV) March 3, 2022
Key highway remains closed in both directions
17:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Detours remain in effect as the key north-south I-95 highway remains closed.
I-95 remains closed in both directions in Volusia County. Detour for northbound is at CR-15A. Detour for southbound is at SR-44. Plan an alternate route for the rest of the afternoon, while troopers clean up multiple crashes, including 3 fatalities. pic.twitter.com/yla3BF2H8N
— FHP Orlando (@FHPOrlando) March 3, 2022
More footage emerges of aftermath of crash
17:20 , Oliver O'Connell
A diesel fuel spill from the big rig crashes caused a fire and explosion in the dense fog.
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
Highway Patrol provided escort
17:35 , Oliver O'Connell
In the aftermath of the response to the crash, media attempting to access the scene were escorted by Florida Highway Patrol as the fog was still so thick.
SMOKE AND FOG have mixed here on I95 to create extremely low visibility, here is what it was like as @FHPOrlando was escorting us closer to the scene. @MyNews13 @MyNews13Traffic pic.twitter.com/CpGCNjsATa
— Eric Mock (@EricMockTV) March 3, 2022
17:50 , Oliver O'Connell
Motorcycle being towed by SUV ended up inside the car when it was rear-ended by a semi tractor trailer. One person died in that crash with a child in the car evacuated to hospital.
This chain of wrecks killed an occupant in the red car. It was hauling a motorcycle. It ended up in the car when rear-ended by a semi. The child onboard was flown to the hospital. The driver and passenger in the white car survived. Watch @WFTV for more starting at noon. https://t.co/V5XBtiTt2O pic.twitter.com/q52gfbcYo5
— Q McCray (@QMcCrayWFTV) March 3, 2022
Fox affiliate posts compilation footage of I-95 pile-up aftermath
18:28 , Oliver O'Connell
‘Everything went white, you couldn’t see nothing'
19:10 , Oliver O'Connell
WFTV9 reports:
Johnny Johnson said he was forced to slow down when his rig was slammed from behind. His truck was one of 17 vehicles involved in five crashes near State Road 442 around 1.30am.
“We came on down the road and all of the sudden everything went white, you couldn’t see nothing,” Mr Johnson said.
