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Subscribe to RSSAn I-75 multi-vehicle crash involved more than 45 vehicles near Sarasota, Fla. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
As many as 47 vehicles were involved in multiple crashes on a stretch of southbound Interstate 75 Friday, leaving mangled heaps of wreckage strewn along the Manatee and Sarasota county line, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
At least 52 people were taken to area hospitals, including three who were airlifted from the scene, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. There were no immediate reports of fatalities, authorities said.
A steady rain was falling at the time of the crash, which occurred after 3 p.m., the Herald-Tribune reported.
"It was confusing, a lot of cars, a lot of rain,” motorist Julio Olmedo told the newspaper.
David Wagle, 57, said he was driving in the middle lane when he spotted a truck ahead lose control, the trailer jackknifing to the right, it said.
"For a minute, nonstop, you could hear crash after crash," he said.
Wagle said he escaped injury after his white Ford truck slammed into a ditch, narrowly missing a row of trees.
"My truck doesn't have a scratch," he said. "Every car literally around is smashed."
Authorities said I-75 was expected to be closed for hours.
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Leave a Comment:
Oh! My God! Hope no one got seriously hurt. Was the crash northbound or south?
I just heard a news story and it may be premature, but they claimed that a couple of people lost their lives. There was also an accident in Wyoming involving seven vehicles with injuries and the loss of two lives. They'd hit black ice.
My thoughts and prayers go to all involved in the crashes and to their families.
Lesson here, maybe you should slow down when driving in the rain. I live in suburban DC and see idiot drivers speeding in rain all the time.
Most people dont have a clue how to drive defensively or evade and maneuver.
Once they get past 65 mph, theyre just "pointing" a few thousand pounds of metal,glass, and plastic. Add cellphones, animals on thier laps, radio or CD player blasting, etc. to the equation and its pretty much over.
Pump my brakes? what?! I thought if I stood on them, I would stop on a dime............
Weathermen
you must have a classic for a car, because now the ABS (anti-locking brake system) is installed on all current model autos. It is recommend never to pump those brakes but put a steady pressure of your brake foot and allow the braking computer to accomplish something akin to "pumping the brakes" but it is done hundred of times per second automatically- you just need to know how to steer out of a slide
Jack,
Some entry-level models — small cars such as the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Nissan Versa — do not have standard antilock brakes. For example, they are optional on Aveo LT models and the Rio LX and SX and not available on base versions of either.
The new federal standard only applys to 2012 and up cars. So yes, if you have a brand new car you are going to have ABS....Just sayin...:P
Having lived both in Michigan and Florida I can tell you both snow and heavy rain present some driving challenges. I will say this though, at least in northern climates their is more predictability with regard to road conditions. In Florida, you can be driving on a sunny day when in less than a minute you'll encounter an extremely heavy blinding downpour. I've even seen it rain on one half of the road, with the other half remain dry...
Florida's heavy rains are blinding they can be as bad as white out conditions in snow, however the biggest issue that causes accidents and not just in Florida is that no one slows down!!!
Jhawke
Yep. Some yahoos just can't seem to separate their political naivete from anything. Politics, you Romunist, has nothing to do with crappy drivers, nor does the state from which they hail. It does have a great deal to do with the lack of intelligence as demonstrated by you!
Jack from Jax, IA ScooterTramp and Tog1, thanks for the laughs this morning!
I live in sarasota and the rain at the time of the pile up was so hard it looked like a white sheet. You can not see in front of you, and you can drive in and out of these types of rain. The skys clear sun shining and next thing you know you in a sheet of water. Its hard to explain, you have to see it to understand.
It's simple, weather, speed and tailgating. It's not just Florida it's every where. I read a highway safety survey about drivers, 98% of drivers will tell you they think they are a good driver. Of them drivers 82% failed a written driving exam. You think you're good but you're not!
I have a second career as a truck driver with 1.5 million accident free miles. One thing I learned is there is a higher level of safer driving. Among them is scanning distance, speed, following distance, having outs in case of an emergency and most of all courtesy to those around you. That's something you rarely see anymore.
Everyone is in a hurry and full of distractions. With today's cars having a better ride one loses the sense of speed and braking. They get more comfortable with their daily routine of bad driving until something like this happens. States need to do a written test every license renewal.
This looks really bad. 47 cars is a lot of metal. And 52 people were hurt. "There were no immediate reports of fatalities, authorities said." I hope it stays that way. Being in a car wreck pile up like that would have to seriously suck. I'm glad no one was killed or pronounced at the scene. Hope the ones that were hurt get well soon. :)
Strange how the number "47" has been popping up recently
Might be Illegal drivers don't know anything about rains that can cause accidents..
People in Florida should simply not be allowed to drive. Something happens to the automobile control center in your brain when you cross the state line and all of the sudden you drive like a fukking moron.
Floridians should also not be allowed to vote.
Sorry, I had to add that and I'm just joking. I feel bad for the people and their families that are involved.
Hollywood and Penelope
Good idea, don't bother crossing the Florida state line. That way, we can control and keep the "fooking moron" population as low as possible - you both are a couple of A$$ Clowns - hope you are happy where you are.
I say it's Mitt Romenys fault, these people were wondering at the time of how to explain to their children
why Big Bird has to go..... distracting them from driving properly
Lived in Florida for 17 years and absolutely the worst drivers on the planet, and not necessarily the older folks. The left lane bandit is alive and well in Florida, with trucks doing 50 in the left lane, nobody able to pass, people on big interstates all bunched up together because there is always somebody in that left lane going 45. Thank the good Lord I'm outta there, I just go for vacations
Amazing, with all the rain we get in Florida some people keep right on speeding along and don't think to slow down.
Problem is most people in Florida are not actually from Florida.