Deadly 70-Car Pileup On Smoky Fla. Highway

4 Killed As Fog And Brush Fire Blanket Nearly 15 Miles Of Interstate 4 Outside Tampa

(CBS/AP)  About 70 vehicles crashed on an interstate blanketed by fog and smoke from a brush fire early Wednesday, killing four people, authorities said.

Nearly 15 miles of Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando was closed by several crashes, including the pileup. Aerial footage in the early morning showed the soupy mix of fog and smoke covering the landscape for miles and giving the sky an eerie golden color.

The poor visibility forced rescuers to walk along the closed interstate checking individual vehicles for injured motorists, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins said. The conditions cleared in late morning, showing mangled, charred trucks and cars pinned underneath some tractor-trailers.

Workers were still trying to rescue one man pinned beneath an overturned truck. There is no estimate on when I-4, the main east-west artery for central Florida, will reopen.

Coggins said 38 people were injured, five seriously.

Roughly 20 of vehicles involved were semi-tractor trailers, including a tanker, reports CBS affiliate WTSP-TV.

At least six of the tractor trailers burned completely.

"Everything came to a halt," Robert Ellison, who was driving east on the highway about 6 a.m., told The Tampa Tribune and WFLA-TV. "You can't see your hand in front of your face."

One of the first people involved in the accident was a sheriff's deputy, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. The deputy told Judd that conditions on the road worsened suddenly. "'It was clear, it was a little foggy, then it was total darkness,"' Judd recounted the deputy saying.

The sheriff said the deputy was shaken up but helped move people to safety as vehicles continued to crash — the sounds of metal grinding and gnashing in the darkness.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and the role of smoke from the fire, which started as a controlled burn and grew out of control.

The fog was a contributing factor to the crashes, Coggins said, but he downplayed the smoke as a cause, saying deputies who were patrolling the area earlier Wednesday morning reported smoke was not an issue.

Since Tuesday, the brush fire has charred 400 acres. It is burning roughly half a mile from the highway and is 90 percent contained, Division of Forestry spokeswoman Chris Kintner said.

Forestry workers notified the highway patrol that smoke from the blaze could mix with fog, she said. Warnings signs were also placed on the interstate, but Kintner said she didn't know whether the signs were lit.

[hopalong123]

To dgage951; I have to take into consideration all of your suggestions due to the fact I drive a truck for a living, my tickets will be much higher, I am presumed guilty for any wreck and have to prove myself not guilty, if someone dies I will go to jail, if I have wreck and it is my fault I will be fired and not be rehireable for at least 3 yrs, I will lose my license and my means of support. So take all that and apply it to my personal vehicle as well (yes even in my pickup it applies). Think I am too judgemental, even if it is someone elses fault my life is all screwed up. Try to apply all above to yourself and see if you catch yourself speeding, cutting someone off, or some other stupid act and think of the end result. REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE IT A TRUCK BROUGHT IT!

[michellem99-2009]

SEP OF CHURCH AND STATE. Have ye been homeless. Have ye lost everything. Have ye been told this/this. I prefer to think out side the box. Ye don''t have a burn when yer in a bloody drought. Think of others . Our nation is the was it is thanks her leaders.

[dgage951]

It is amazing how judgemental people in our country have become. A horrific accident occurs and it turns into a discussion about global warming,traffic laws, government politics and policies, and the list goes on. I think its time we all step back and realize life again. These people were involved in an accident; some were killed, many were injured and everyones property was certainly destroyed. What we don''t know is everything everyone is saying probably caused it. They haven''t even cleared the scene yet.
Try this on next time you feel your judgmental attitude coming on.....What if it were me-what should my fine be if they assume I was speeding, how much jail time should I get if they find out the car I hit resulted in a fatality, should I be fired from my job too.......Surely you get the idea-make up your own response and then turn it on yourself next time cause it might be you next time.
Jesus said, love your neighbor as yourself. I don''t know about you but I don''t usually judge and condemn myself for my own mistakes, therefore I''ve learned to take it easy on those around me. If you''ll consider taking on Jesus teaching you might find more peace in life-that in fact is what it means to believe in Him. May God''s hand be on those impacted by this event.

[slim1h2o]

To AL2008; at 05:00 PM : Jan 09, 2008,, and to all others

Hi Al, this the Governor of Fla, as part of my new "comprehensive anti-global warming" package, I must ask you to refrain from using your car, suv, and all other motorized equipment.

Under the new policy, the only mode of transportation that private Americans, will be allowed to use is their feet, and or the public bus. But only, if you have to travel more than 25 miles, you will be allowed to use the bus! Any distance less than 25 miles, you can use your bicycle, and only your bicycle.

I hope you find my new policies, to your satisfaction!

Hope you have a good year, and a good life!

Signed,,,The GUV

P.S. Don''t even think of using a horse, they give off more methane,,,, to ,.... well,,to choke a horse.

Have a pleasnt day!

[hopalong123]

ONLY 70? Here are some facts that contributed to the pile up, most people in this country drive at 10 over the posted limit or more, bumper to bumper at 70 or more, on the cell, laptop, reading or some other stupid move that distracts, got to be first, dont use headlights in fog or rain, and I could go on but wont. I wish the states would implement a mandatory $500.00 fine and loss of license for 15 or more over the limit, take away the vehicle for a 2 week period, and make yearly retesting mandatory for anyone with 3 or more moving violations. Driving over the limit is stupid and unnecesary I have proven too many times that doing the limit I can get there just as fast by driving smart and paying attention. By the way I am a truck driver with over 2 million miles with no accidents, and only one ticket (not a moving violation. Last but not least if you take all the vehicles in this country that speed and use 3 mpg as a multiplier think of how much fuel would be saved!!!!! Think of that the next time the suv needs a tank.

[fd261]

Everyone is so quick to blame someone else; it''s always someone else''s fault. What happen to individual responsibility. Yes, it''s bad what happen. BUT, the speed limit is for ideal conditions! These weren''t ideal conditions. These people were obviously driving too fast for conditions. If people would slow down when they should tragedies like this could be prevented.

[michellem99-2009]

There has to be drivers who are in such a bloody hurry to get to point A. They ought know safety first. I love fog as it look pretty. Poeple tend to tail gate and it is a problem. I can walk faster they can drive. I have ask yer in a drought and there has to be a burn ban and why they started a control burn . It is bloody dumb. I have been in droughts and ye can''t do a lot of things. BURN BAN IS PUT IN PLACE,WATER IS CONSERVED. There are dos and don''ts. We use water as we need to. Ye need to use yer head. I lived in an area,it was hit hard with drought. They told us what was allowed and not.
1 a burn ban
2 no watering yer yard
3 no washing yer car
4 wash full loads of clothes
5 no tossing yer smokimg cigs
6 conserve water.
Surely they knew better. Who gave them premission to have a controled burn..They must step up to the plate and get anwsers.

[thomderr]

The most common mistake people use is to apply their high beams during fog.
Add on cell phones and the usual rat race that Interstate 4 is.... the rats win.

And to AL2008:
"Global warming storms and fires?"

Nature has much more control over human race than we believe.

[whatithink-2009]

MichelleM99,

We all have faults. You know who you are and that is all that should matter. Those who judge you, must be as critical judging themselves as they are judging you. If they are not, they are not worthy of you.

[michellem99-2009]

My folks They talk the same as me plus I have an Iraland flag on my wall. I am a hillbilly from Maine. I wanted whant I could not have. Ye take it for granted. Yer schooling. They failed to teach me as I was the only one with my sp needs. A vet friend got me in to computer. He did not pity me but wanted me to see how the bloody fools cared not if I learnt any thing. I have kin that can''t write at all. I thank God Almighty For what I do have. Years ago they told me teachers would not both to teach me..I was pissed and hurt. I know no different. This was per computer. I do care about my fellow humans if yer don''t. I was raised to.