As it happenedended1646337094

I-95 crash: Three killed in accident after 17 cars crash in pile-up amid ‘super fog’ event in Florida

Oliver O'Connell
Thursday 03 March 2022 19:51 GMT
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'Super fog': Weather event may have played role in deadly I-95 crashes

At least three people are dead after more than a dozen vehicles crashed in a pileup on an interstate in Volusia County, Florida, according to local reports.

The Miami Herald reports that at least five crashes occurred on I-95 in in Edgewater, Florida. The incident unfolded at around 1.30am Thursday when visibility was severely impacted due to fog and a controlled burn in the area.

At least one semi truck was involved, according to authorities. One child was airlifted to hospital in stable condition, the Herald reported.

It is unclear how many people were injured in the crashes but a number have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Much of the blame for the crash has been placed on a “super fog” event in which smoke and moisture mix with cool air and drop visibility levels to less than 10ft.

I-95 remains closed in the vicinity of Edgewater, and the northbound lanes will need to be resurfaced before they can reopen.

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At least three dead in series of pile-ups in Florida

At least three people have died in a series of pile-ups along the I95 corridor in Florida in zero visibility conditions early on Thursday morning.

Authorities said smoke from a prescribed burn combined with fog to create a near blackout at 1.30am along the busy interstate in Volusia County.

Both north and southbound lanes saw multiple crashes at around 1.30am, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said on Thursday.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:14
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Zero visibility thought to be cause

“What we now know happened is there was almost zero visibility in the area based on smoke and fog that had mixed together and visibility dropped to zero,” Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said on Thursday.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:19
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Four crashes in northbound lane, six vehicle pile-up southbound

Spectrum News 13 reported four separate crashes involving 11 vehicles in the northbound lane, which resulted in one fatality and many injuries.

In the southbound lane, a six-vehicle pile-up involving four semi-trailers, an SUV and a van left two drivers dead, Florida Highway Patrol Lt Kim Montes said.

Several children were among the injured.

One of the semi-trucks caught fire, causing a huge fireball to erupt.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:24
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Early reporting showed fiery wreckage

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:30
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Daylight reveals extent of ‘super fog event’

What is being termed a “super fog event” caused sharp drops in visibility leading to the 17 cars to crash in five separate incidents.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:35
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Smoke from controlled burn contributing factor

On Wednesday, the City of Edgewater’s Fire Department notified the public of a controlled burn west of the I-95 and said some smoke may be visible if the wind changes direction.

Authorities now believe smoke from the prescribed burn combined with fog to create the near blackout conditions at 1.30am along the busy interstate in Volusia County.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:45
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Everything we know so far

Bevan Hurley reports on the massive pile-up event on I-95 in Florida.

Three dead in five-crash pile-up on I-95 caused by ‘prescribed burn’ smoke

Motorists had near-zero visibility after smoke combined with fog along the I95 corridor south of Daytona Beach

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 14:56
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Number of injured remains unknown

An unknown number of people have been injured in the incident, with one child airlifted to hospital.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 15:10
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What is ‘super fog’?

According to the National Weather Service, a “super fog” forms when a mixture of smoke and moisture released from damp smoldering organic material such as brush, leaves and trees, mixes with cooler, nearly saturated air.

Visibility is lowered to less than 10 feet. Under light wind conditions, super fog meanders through low terrain areas such as creek beds or drainage ditches.

Super fog can be very dangerous when present over highways, and has been the cause of several large, multi-vehicle pileups.

Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 15:20
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Oliver O'Connell3 March 2022 15:35

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