Dozens hurt in 7 crashes on southbound I-75

Authorities say dozens of travelers have been injured -- but no one killed -- in a chain reaction of collisions on Interstate 75 along Florida's Gulf Coast. / CBS News/WTSP

SARASOTA, Fla. Authorities say dozens of travelers have been injured — but no one killed — in a chain reaction of collisions on Interstate 75 along Florida's Gulf Coast.

The Florida Highway Patrol reported Friday evening that 52 people were hurt in 12 separate crashes involving 47 vehicles on southbound Interstate 75. Twenty-two persons were taken to area hospitals, including two people who were critically injured, though their injuries weren't considered life-threatening.

The collisions occurred Friday afternoon near the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties.

A stretch of southbound I-75 was closed for six hours Friday as the scene was cleared, but the highway patrol reported just after 9 p.m. that the section is now open.

Authorities attributed the collisions to heavy rain and driver error, including motorists traveling too fast given the weather.