Fatal crashes plague central Fla. roadways Thanksgiving weekend

ORLANDO, Fla. — It's been a deadly weekend on the roads with at least nine deaths just on Saturday.

Troopers stepped up patrols to try to keep the roads safe Sunday. It was expected to be the busiest travel day this Thanksgiving weekend.

Interstate 4 westbound was shut down after a five-car crash that killed multiple people Saturday morning, causing a huge traffic jam.

Orlando police got a call that a white Ford Explorer was speeding and going the wrong way on I-4 westbound in downtown.

The woman driving plowed head-on into another driver near the Princeton exit, police said. She and the other driver were killed.

Three other cars could not stop in time and crashed into the two vehicles.

Traffic was backed up for miles as officials cleared the scene.

There is no word yet on why the woman was driving the wrong way on the interstate.

In Volusia County, Interstate 95 northbound was shut down for more than five hours following a fatal, fiery wreck just north of Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange.

A small car fire created smoky conditions and made it a difficult scene for rescuers.

At least one person was killed. All lanes opened back up Saturday night.

Officials have not released any other details about how it happened.

In Brevard County, police say a man who was hit by a car in Indian Harbour Beach is in critical but stable condition.

The accident happened along South Patrick and Anchor drives, just before 11 p.m. Friday.

The victim was taken from an ambulance and put into a helicopter to be rushed to the hospital.

Police are still looking for the vehicle that hit him.

Troopers will be using a helicopter Sunday to catch speeders from the air and keep drivers safe on one of the busiest holiday travel days of the year.

WFTV