Jan. 1, 21 Vehicle accident on I-75 near mile marker 414 in Columbia County still under investigation

According to a Jan. 3rd release from Florida Hwy Patrol, FHP continues to investigate an incident that occurred on January 1st at approximately 12:40 am in Columbia County. For reasons to be determined, a series of collisions occurred as twenty-one vehicles

were traveling north on I-75 near the 414 mile marker. According to FHP, the vehicles involved were: a Ford F150, a white transit van, a Lexus RX 300, a Lexus RX 350, a Nissan 3500 Van & trailer, a Toyota Rav4, a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Ultima, a Lincoln Navigator, a Ford F250, a Dodge Ram pickup & trailer, a Nissan Sentra, a Ford Maverick pickup & trailer, a Nissan Ultima, a Ford Mustang, a Kia Soul, a Chevrolet Suburban, a Subaru Outback, a TEMSA Charter Bus (which had fifteen passengers on board), a Toyota Camry, and a Nissan Ultima. 

There was in excess of forty-five persons involved, three of whom were killed (two men and a woman, all from  Chicago, Illinois) other drivers and passengers that were  injured were transported via five separate rescue units to Lake City Medical Center or  to Shands of UF; the exact number of persons injured is still to be determined, as some drove themselves to a Medical Facility.          

      Once FHP’s  Major Crash Investigation Unit finished mapping  the scene, collecting evidence and removed all persons, vehicles and debris the Interstate was reopened and 12:40 pm. 

      Once this large scale investigation is concluded, investigators will have  more specific facts, data and details of what occurred  that caused  the chain reaction of collisions.