A recent multi-vehicle accident has left 10 people dead and 18 injured just outside of Gainesville, Florida. Only a few hours before the massive accident, which involved at least 13 vehicles, another accident had occurred on the same stretch of road because of poor visibility. Police chose to reopen Interstate 75, but 15 minutes later, a collision started a chain of accidents that spread across both lanes of the interstate. One accident victim described the scene as if "someone was pickup up cars and throwing them."

Six of the vehicles that were involved in the accident were big rig semitrailers. Since truckers are professional drivers, what may be considered acceptable driving for a recreational driver may be considered driver negligence for a trucker. While the Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident, it appears that there was a thick wall of smoke and fog that the truckers knowingly entered, putting other motorists at risk. Instead of pulling over and waiting for the fog to clear, the drivers chose to drive through weather conditions that virtually wiped out their ability to see.

The accident scene appears to have been a terrifying sight. Some of the crashed vehicles had caught on fire, adding to the smoke that had settled over the section of Interstate 75. Other vehicles were crushed under the trucks and metal debris was sent flying through the air. Not only did the drivers involved in the accidents have a difficult time seeing in the fog, emergency medical personnel could only locate survivors by the sounds of their cries.

Driving is clearly a dangerous activity, but with care and caution, most motorists should be able to travel to their destinations without being hit. As long as motorists and truckers follow common sense safety procedures, they should be able to avoid causing a serious accident. Failing to do so, however, puts drivers at a serious risk of injury or death.

Source: Associated Press, "Questions remain in deadly Florida highway crash," Mike Schneider, Jan. 30, 2012