The Brief
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Multiple crashes along I-75 near Ocala Friday afternoon left seven people hospitalized.
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One pile-up that happened before 3 p.m. involved approximately 50 vehicles as storms created hazardous driving conditions.
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Southbound lanes were reopened around 8 p.m., with traffic still heavily impacted into the evening.
OCALA, Fla. – A series of crashes involving approximately 50 vehicles shut down southbound lanes of Interstate 75 near Ocala on Friday afternoon, leaving seven people hospitalized, transportation officials said Friday.
What we know
Preliminary information indicates that multiple crashes occurred in the span of two miles of I-75 southbound near U.S. 27 just before 3 p.m. Authorities said approximately 50 vehicles, including multiple tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles were involved.
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Multiple agencies, including Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County Fire Rescue, the Florida Highway Patrol and Road Rangers, were dispatched to secure crash sites and treat the injured. There were no serious injuries reported.
As of 8 p.m., traffic remained heavily impacted, but all lanes had reopened.
What we don’t know
Officials have not released details about the extent of the victims’ injuries or provided confirmation that weather was the direct cause of the crashes.
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The backstory
The crashes followed a brief period of inclement weather that left roads slick along one of Florida’s busiest interstate corridors. I-75 through Marion County is a heavily traveled route for commuters, long-haul trucks and tourists, where high-speed traffic often compounds the risk during sudden weather changes.
What they’re saying
Authorities urged drivers to exercise caution or avoid the area altogether.
“Inclement weather along with driver inattention had a factor in these crashes,” officials said. “The crashes remain under investigation due to the complexity of them.”
The Source
This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol.
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