Tragedy on I-75 near Gainesville, Fl

[capt.jim]

My parents live in Ocala, very close to there, sometimes the fog can be widespread and just as bad as the smoke. My brother was going fishing and was involved in an accident on a rural road where a barn had burned and the smoke was blowing across the road at 4:30 am, one second he could see and then solid smoke, before he could hit the brakes he plowed into a 4 car pileup. The police were already there but didn't bother to have someone up the road to warn anyone, it turned into a big deal. His boat ended up 10' inside a chevy astro van, broke the tie down strap like a piece of spaghetti. These things happen quickly sometimes, you don't want to keep going and your scared to just stop, best to get off the road as far and quickly as possible. My heart goes out to all those affected in Gainsville.

 

[Firefly]

Very sad indeed..... but Scotty you are pretty smart when it comes to safety...... whether the road was open or not-- you wouldn't have gone on it in those conditions.

I've been up in the Smokies when the flashing lights are on that say 5 mph..... and they are not joking. The fog blocked so much you could barely see 10 feet in front of you.....

gotta be super careful under such conditions.

I doubt the cops can be held liable. You drive at your own risk.... and they can only do so much to protect you -- especially from forces of nature.

 

[spyderdmb1621]

Accident

Welcome to sofl...that's why I refuse to ride on I 95

Very sad indeed..... but Scotty you are pretty smart when it comes to safety...... whether the road was open or not-- you wouldn't have gone on it in those conditions.

I've been up in the Smokies when the flashing lights are on that say 5 mph..... and they are not joking. The fog blocked so much you could barely see 10 feet in front of you.....

gotta be super careful under such conditions.

I doubt the cops can be held liable. You drive at your own risk.... and they can only do so much to protect you -- especially from forces of nature.

 

[dannymax]

Poor visibility may only be one of the contributing factors in this accident, and maybe not even a major one at that.

A few years ago on I-87 in northern NY, a terrible accident occured at a NYS Police/US Border Patrol check point....a more or less permanant check point with warning signs, etc. for approaching traffic. The day of the incident visibility was unlimited, no fog or smoke, a few cars were stopped at the checkpoint when a tractor trailer plowed into them without ever lifting off the throttle. Several vehicles burst into flames and 4 people died.

One person's bad decision can set an event like this in motion and it feeds on itself after that. It will take a little time but the NTSB will sort it all out as to what happened and in what order.

The 'intentionally set fire,' if it turns out to be that, almost certainly was not set with the intention of causing this disaster....a fact that will probably get lost in the weeds if they catch the guy. Jeez, may have just been a local farmer burning some brush....:dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

The NTSB is investigating. Yep, the same folks who investigate plane crashes. It's easy to armchair when you don't have the facts. Lets give the pros a chance.

:agree:
:agree::agree:

 

[Firefly]

I guess we could all just sit inside on the couch and never go out because something *might* happen somewhere out there..........

Life is filled with risks..... and stuff happens.......

 

[Bob Denman]

I guess we could all just sit inside on the couch and never go out because something *might* happen somewhere out there..........

...Or we could all just sit quietly inside and let NOTHING happen! :roflblack: As far as I'm concerned; I still have lots of hide on my carcass that deserves some scars...

 

[bruiser]

...Or we could all just sit quietly inside and let NOTHING happen! :roflblack: As far as I'm concerned; I still have lots of hide on my carcass that deserves some scars...

:thumbup: :thumbup: