In watching the evening news covering the story tonight (channel 2 out of Orlando,Fl), the camera panned from an overhead view to alot of ground level views. The Panther unit and an unidentified 18-wheeler were depited as being at the beginning of the crash. At no time during the report was it indicated that these vihicles had caused the original crash. They did attribute the cause of the crash to smoke and fog in the area.
Although emergency vehicles at the rear of the scene attempted to alert on-coming traffic to the initial crash, a log hauler loaded with logs crashed at full speed into the emergency vihicles causing the multiple fatalities. It would appear that the Panther and the 18-wheeler were the more fortunate ones when the log hauler hit the rear of the pack as damage to the those two cabs appeared not to be significant. We can only hope she (Panther) was in a safe place and only shaken up. If not Godspeed her recovery and our hearts ache for those less fortunate.
For those of you with travel plans on the Florida Turnpike late tonight and early Wednesday "BE CAREFULL!!!" They are calling for more smoke and fog. Although FL Highway Patrol reopened the pike early this evening they are warning that as a safety precaution they may be closing it again if conditions warrant doing so. Since we are at home here in Fl we will try to monitor this situation and post any updates or you can call FHP for info. Be Safe, Take Your Time, and remember as we say in Florida "Arrive Alive!"
