I-75 reopens following second closure after deadly crashes

MARION COUNTY -- 

I-75 and and U.S. 441 are open again in both directions near Gainesville following a series of crashes in low-visibility conditions early Sunday that claimed 10 lives and injured another 18 people.

The highways had briefly reopened early today, but authorities closed the highways again over concerns about smoke and fog. Both highways reopened around 11 a.m.

The FHP said at least seven semi-trucks and a dozen passenger vehicles were involved in Sunday's horrific sequence of crashes. None of the victims of have been identified.

Recap, images from Sunday's crashes

The crashes were on I-75 in Alachua County, south of Gainesville. The crashes occurred around 4 a.m., shortly after the highway was reopened after a 3 1/2-hour closure becuse of low visibility. A three-vehicle crash precipitated that closure. A passenger in one of the vehicles involved, Willie Moss, 59, of Gainesville, was taken to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in serious condition.

According to Alachua County Sheriff's spokesperson Sgt. Todd Kelly, a fellow deputy described putting his hand in front of his face and not being able to see it when he arrived on the scene of Sunday's crashes.

Kelly described the scene that delved into a helpless "nightmare" as more and more crashes occurred in the surrounding darkness, smoke and fog.

"They were up there trying to get help to these people, and, while they're doing that, more traffic crashes are occurring and it's like a domino effect,'' Kelly said. "They hear tires screeching and people calling out for help, and, you know, at some point [they] almost feel helpless, because they can't find where these people are, where the next crash is, and at the same time they're dodging bullets -- cars on the interstate -- dodging them to get help to those in need."

Fire started on purpose?　

Investigators are looking into the possibility an arsonist set the fire that caused smoke that led to the deaths of at least 10 people and injured 18 in the series of overnight crashes on I-75 near Gainesville.

"I've never seen anything like it, and Lt. Riordon, with the [Florida] Highway Patrol, mentioned that he'd never seen one this bad and he's been doing this, I think, close to 29 years," the ACSO spokesperson said.

None of the victims have been identified and the conditions of those being treated have not been released.

All lanes of the interstate were closed between Mile Markers 374 and 382 in Alachua County following the crash.

State forestry spokeswoman Ludie Bond said the fire started Saturday. Officials know it wasn't a controlled burn or caused by lightning, and it appears started accidentally or intentionally.

Smoke from the fire mixed with fog to cause multi-vehicle pileups. Bond said the fire has burned 62 acres of prairie and is contained, but it continues to burn. She said a similar fire has been burning in the area since mid-November because the vegetation is so thick and deep.