Posted on 01/09/2008 7:04:03 AM PST by Milwaukee_Guy
POLK COUNTY -- Smoke and fog formed a deadly combination this morning along Interstate 4 near Haines City. Near-zero visibility caused a massive, deadly pile-up involving at least 50 vehicles, many of them tractor-trailers. A number of vehicles caught fire.
Three people are reported dead and dozens injured. The accidents occured in the area of County Road 557.
I-4, the main traffic artery between Tampa and Orlando is now shut down in both directions between the Polk County Parkway (Hwy 570) and Highway 27 in Haines City. It will likely remain closed for much of the day.
http://www.local6.com/slideshow/news/15010024/detail.html
This slide show is surreal and incredible. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
“Why do these stories get dumped into General/Chat?”
I’ve wondered the same thing. Guess if it doesn’t involve NY or CA stories of us (fill in the blank) Floridians burning to death on a major Interstate get moved to General Chat.
My 2 cents.
Even local news here in WI was carrying this as breaking news...
Good question.
But let any Hollyweird Slutress break a nail and that's for two days!
Likely caused by some schmuck yakking away on the cell phone and not paying attention to the road
Longer than 2 days, heck they are STILL talking about Lindasay Lohan in rehab and that was last year.
Anytime you see that happen, please let us know and we'll promptly move it or pull it.
I can understand pulling a story out on BN after a set time, but as others have been — this one is News, and should have been moved there, not Chat. Too many of us around the World have FRiends in the areas some of these crisis hit, and often enough, FR does a great job of getting the info first, fast, and correctly updated.
Sorry — pet peeve of mine.
Cheers,
Mike.
I am sick and tired of the MSM pimping the East and West Coast to the exclusion of many other areas of the country.
Here on FR we are getting too many hard news and breaking news stories moved into chat.
FR is primarily a political site but was once one of the best for hard breaking news. I would hate to see that change for every little political spin story to become Breaking News and Front Page News.
It is going to be a long election and it is going to be a long war on terror. Let’s not forget “regular” hard news.
Yep, I noticed another Britney thread in Breaking News this morning. Gets harder and harder to donate doesn’t it?
In my opinion, if it involves the personal problems or lifestyles of Hollywood types, then it belongs in chat right from the start. If a story affects the general public, then it belongs in Breaking News. I don’t care squat about Lindsey’s or Britany’s “me, me, me” problems.
From last night’s news at around 8:20 PM ... they were just clearing the last semi-trailer and thought there was structural damage to the roadway (assume fire / heat damage). Crews were standing by for an emergency resurface. Does anyone have the AM status of the highway?
I-4 is to remain closed until 650 feet are rebuilt. It could reopen today. SR50 to the north is very heavy volume and 98 to the south is so heavy the reporters are suggesting SR-60 to Lake Wales to 27 North. I live in Winter Haven, and from Tampa, you can take the Polk Parkway, (tolls are free until this is over), exit on 540, (Winter Lake Road) and take it to 27. SR-540 is Cypress Gardens Blvd and the taffic is very light this AM. It is not that far out of the way when you consider 98 is jammed and 60 is far south.
From Orlando to Tampa, just reverse... take 27 south to SR-540 to Polk Parkway to I-4
FReegards,
DocRock
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department this morning reports that until further notice, the following Polk County roadways are closed due to extremely limited visibility:
I-4 from the Polk Parkway to U.S. 27, both lanes east and westbound.
Polk City Road from Lake Lowery Road to C.R. 557
C.R. 557 from the 557-557A juncture to I-4
C.R. 557A from the 557-557A juncture to CR 559
C.R. 559 from Gapway Road to I-4
Thanks for the update ... Nauti, how ya doin? and from the screen names, has the medical profession branched out into traffic reporting? :)
lol—thanks for asking. Watching way too much tv while recuperating. On top of that, bought a new car 4 days before surgery that is wasting away in the garage. Maybe that’s where my traffic affinity is coming from.
Correction... 98 should read 92
I have a business on SR540 in Winter Haven and don’t see it mentioned as an alternate route and I can see the light traffic from my window.
Ha—unless you are looking to increase business via drive-by, consider the light traffic a blessing.
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