TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant expressed concerns about reopening an interstate highway shortly before two massive crashes that killed 11 people in January.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report said the FHP erred in reopening fog-and smoke-shrouded Interstate 75 shortly before the crash on Jan. 29.
The report, though, said there were no criminal violations. However, the FDLE said there were definitely problems with how the situation was handled.
At least a dozen cars and pickup trucks, six semi-trailers and a motor home collided in north Florida near Gainesville. Some vehicles burst into flames, making it difficult to identify the victims.
The highway was blanketed with smoke from a wildfire as well as fog.
The report shows there was a lack of communication between dispatchers and FHP personnel out in the field about how weather conditions and the smoke could affect visibility on the road.
Interstate 75 had been closed earlier in the day but reopened shortly before the fatal pileup.
According to the report, at 3:26 a.m., six troopers and Alachua deputies reopened the interstate near a rest area. There were also cars patrolling US 441. But all but one vehicle dispersed for meal breaks or stayed in the rest another.
The Florida Fire Service warned the highway patrol the night before: saying, “Just wanted to make sure y'all are going to patrol it, because you might have to close toward morning time."
But the fire call was closed out of FHP's computer aided dispatch system after all responders left the scene reporting the smoke had cleared.
Troopers coming on the midnight shift said they were never made aware of a fire in Alachua County, which was causing problems.
But Sgt. Bruce Simmons seemed to have had a hunch the fire could be a concern and requested a major be notified just after 1 a.m.
Simmons said he warned Lt. John Gourley he had concerns about the visibility.
Simmons was heard on radio after the crashes saying, “They wouldn't freaking listen earlier. That's what I told my lieutenant earlier ... I said that it would roll in faster than you can shut it down. This crap wouldn't have happened if he'd have listened."
The report documents that a captain may have even tried to cover up Simmons' claims, issuing a memo that Simmons recanted his disagreement.
But Simmons told FDLE investigators the memo was wrong and he strongly disagreed with Gourley's decision to reopen the interstate.
Witnesses described the scene as chaos, with crashes and explosions around them in a shroud of smoke and fog.
“Another accident. Oh, my, God,” one caller said to dispatchers. “Another accident. Another accident. Going northbound.”
Now, FDLE investigators are recommending the FHP set up a separate fire log and be in communication with the fire service and the National Weather Service to determine conditions.
They’re also recommending the Department of Transportation install permanent signs in the low-lying area, because it is subject to poor visibility.
WFTV
