I-75 South in Pasco closed after trucks crash

Update: Due to the damage to the road, the southbound lanes are expected to remain closed until at least 6 p.m., troopers said. Asphalt must be replaced.

Southbound traffic on Interstate 75 in Pasco County is shut down this morning after a fiery crash involving a semitrailer and dump truck near State Road 56.

Neither driver was injured, troopers said.

Southbound lanes are expected to remain closed until noon, troopers said.

Motorists will be diverted onto State Road 54 (exit 279). Traffic south of that exit and north of the crash will be diverted back to State Road 54 or southbound on the shoulder to State 56 to exit.

Other motorists should avoid roads in the area.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash occurred about 6:30 a.m.

According to investigators, the tractor-trailer was traveling south in the outside lane of I-75 in a construction zone, where it collided with a crash attenuator, troopers said.

The collision caused the truck to partially jackknife and collide with the center median guardrail, troopers said.

The dump truck, traveling behind the tractor-trailer, was unable to stop or avoid a collision, striking the rear of the tractor-trailer, troopers said.

Both drivers were able to exit their vehicles before a fire erupted on the tractor-trailer.

The tractor-trailer, operated by Pat Salmon & Sons of Jacksonville, was transporting mail, troopers said.
 

Devastating Crash in Florida on I-75

After having a rather eventful weekend in Tampa for the Gasparilla celebration, I had a friend visiting from Atlanta and he left bright and early Sunday morning around 10 a.m. to head back home. After speaking to him again at 4 p.m., I was baffled to find out he was not only still in Florida, he had just passed Gainesville in a very confusing detour off I-75 through side roads, then eventually back on the interstate. My curiosity got me wondering and I began scouring Google to find out what the holdup was. Then I saw the pictures…

One of the most horrible things that can happen on a highway happened early yesterday morning. Living in Florida, and more importantly Gainesville for many years, the crash hits very close to home. The wreck happened after a long line of cars and trucks collided before dawn Sunday on a stretch of Interstate 75 south of Gainesville. The highway was closed Saturday night because of blinding fog and smoke that caused a three-way crash, and then reopened before the chain collisions started around 3:45 a.m. Never have I seen anything quite like the photos. At least a dozen cars and six tractor-trailers were involved, and some burst into flames. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of these crash victims.

Read the story here:

http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2012/jan/30/1/i-75-pileup-witness-it-looked-like-the-end-of-the--ar-352882/