Up to 50 Vehicles Involved in Deadly Pile-Up on I-4 (Florida)

ABC Action News ^ | Wednesday January 9, 2008 | Milwaukee_Guy

[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.

[DocRock]

The DOT took out my left turn into my plaza about a month ago. No warning, letter or hearing... they just cut the traffic into my location in half.

Fog this AM was really bad here, but now it is a beautiful, clear day.

[GreenAccord]

Likely caused by some schmuck yakking away on the cell phone and not paying attention to the road

Ah, but this was Florida, Mr Irving Schmelding doesn't know how to operate a cell phone. Instead, I suspect that his 6 year old Pomeranian was on his lap as he tooled down the left lane at a scorching 38 mph in his 2004 Cadillac DTS.

Of course I'm kidding but if cell phones conversations are dangerous when driving, lets make sure we outlaw dogs on drivers laps also.

[NRA1995]

if cell phones conversations are dangerous when driving, lets make sure we outlaw dogs on drivers laps also.

Yes, let's!

[poobear]

I’m originally from Polk County. The Green Swamp produces some the thickest fog known to Florida. They knew damned well that burning around that area in the Winter which produces this pea soup fog EVERY YEAR could be a disaster whether the controlled burn went outside the designated area or NOT.

The natural fog combined with this small burn WAS a disaster.

Our division of Forestry and Water Management are morons!

[Sunnyflorida]

“Likely caused by some schmuck yakking away on the cell phone and not paying attention to the road”

20 something illegal alien chick in the left lane doing 5 MPH under “yakking away on the cell phone.”

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I had to go to J’Ville this morning and it took me over three hours from Lakeland to the Champions Gate I-4 entrance, using backroads, which everyone else was using. (35 miles) Lake Alfred was stop and go. Mostly stop. What a mess. I came back on 75 and it was a breeze. I-4 now re-opened.