Gainesville, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA/Fla. Highway Patrol)-Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol have released preliminary information from the Interstate 75 crash investigation here.
A semi-truck was traveling northbound on I-75 when it hit a northbound passenger vehicle. After the collision, both vehicles traveled through the guardrail, in the center median and into the southbound lanes.
Traveling southbound was a passenger van and another semi-truck.
As the semi-truck traveled into the southbound lanes it collided with the van and the southbound semi-truck. The van overturned, ejecting some occupants. Both semi-trucks caught fire. A southbound pickup truck that was behind the van and semi-truck, traveled through the scene.
Confirmed deceased:
Five children from the passenger van, from Louisiana.
The adult male driver of the northbound semi-truck.
The adult male driver of the southbound semi-truck.
Confirmation on the number of injured taken to two hospitals is still being confirmed. They involve both children and adults.
There is damage to the roadway, so drivers need to prepare for delays in the area. Travelers may want to find an alternate route. Use 511 for updates.
Photo courtesy Fla. Dept. of Transportation