No injuries in three-semi crash that closed I-75 for three hours
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There were no injuries in a crash involving three semi trucks that closed I-75 for three hours today.
According to a release from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), at 11:36 a.m. today, a passenger vehicle traveling southbound near the 386 mile marker on I-75 hydroplaned, moved to the left, and hit the guardrail in the center median. After hitting the guardrail, the passenger vehicle traveled back across the highway to the right-hand shoulder. FHP did not provide any information about the occupants of this car.
All three semi trucks were traveling southbound behind the passenger vehicle. Reacting to the passenger vehicle’s path across the highway, the driver of the first semi quickly moved from the right lane to the center lane, causing a series of collisions between the three semi trucks and blocking all the lanes in the southbound direction.
All lanes were cleared and reopened at about 2:35 p.m.
Wow, so glad no one injured.
The interstate should be designed in a manner so that it does not collect water on it?
Too many people are unaware of their tire status or what they need. Have a pro tell you the age (less than 7 years is acceptable), determine whether the tread depth is within specification, if it is an appropriate tire for the conditions, and a general wear/condition inspection in case you have an alignment issue, defect, nail, etc. Water on the road in FL is just a thing sometimes.
With the increase in wrecks in this area, it would be nice if a task force could come up with a plan to divert traffic quickly. I am not trying to be insensitive to those involved in the wrecks and am glad there were no serious injuries. Delaying traffic on such a heavily traveled highway for 3 hours is equally as dangerous. The county can’t control irresponsible drivers or the weather. People need to use common sense when the roads are wet. The speed limit is for dry weather. When the roads are wet, slow down! And don’t turn on your dang flashers. Sorry, that’s another rant.
One issue is that locals hop on and off the interstate to get to different parts of town. Interstates were not designed for that; merging traffic plays havoc with the “stay to the right unless passing” system, which normally works very well.
Our local roadway system is so badly planned and managed that people save time by driving out of their way.
(Anticipating the objection, yes, it’s too late for traditional solutions, but growth should have been expected and planned for much earlier– when it first became faster to drive further it should have sent up red warning flags.)
They could try extending the off-ramp/on-ramp lane between Williston and Archer roads, and add parallel access roads (which are under construction, to give credit where it’s due) to provide an alternate path.