Nine vehicles crash on I-75 follow up 3/18/2009

The Florida Highway Patrol has released more details on the crash that snarled traffic for hours on Interstate 75 in Gainesville on Monday afternoon.

FHP Troopers Javon Murphy and Mike Todd determined the incident involved two semis, a van and six other passenger vehicles. Incredibly, no one was seriously injured, although five people were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, troopers said. Traffic was moving slowing in the northbound lanes of I-75 just north of the Archer Road entrance ramp where a minor crash had taken place on Monday morning.

The multi-car collision began at 12:04 p.m., according to FHP records, when Tracy Faulkner, 19, of Safety Harbor was northbound in the center lane of I-75 driving a 2003 Toyota four-door.

Faulkner reportedly rear-ended a 2007 Chevrolet four-door being driven ahead of her in the center lane by Anthony Jones, 22, of Thonotosassa. Jones drove into the center grass median after the impact. Faulkner and Jones were not injured, according to FHP. Richard Skelton, 30, of Clermont,was behind Faulkner and Jones and was driving a 1998 Mack semi hauling a hydraulic crane as he headed north in the center lane. Trooper Murphy said that when Skelton "observed the slowed and stopped traffic ahead, he took evasive action and steered to the left." The maneuver made the hydraulic crane that Skelton was hauling fall off the trailer and partially strike a 2007, two-door Porsche being driven behind him by Daniel Mitchell, 44, of Gainesville. Mitchell was taken to Shands at the University of Florida for treatment of minor injuries and Skelton was taken to North Florida Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The crane also hit the back of a 2008 Chrysler 300 being driven by Steven Glick, 49, of Boca Raton. Glick was also taken to Shands at UF with minor injuries.

The impact of the crane hitting the Chrysler made the Chrysler hit a 2003, four-door Volkswagen being driven by Anne Myers, 21, of Odessa. She was not injured, according to FHP.

Next, the Chrysler collided with Faulkner's Toyota. Meanwhile, Skelton's semi veered across the freeway into the center grass median ,where it hit a 2007 Regency van being driven by Kathleen Tessmer, 60, of Junction City, Wis. She was taken to North Florida Regional with minor injuries. Kenneth Mazerolle, 74, of Dade City was driving a 1999 Mack semi hauling a load of lumber when he steered to the left to avoid Skelton's dropped load and smashed into the metal guardrail in the median. Mazerolle and Mazerolle's passenger, Andrew Martinez, 19, of Dade City, escaped without injuries. Details about the involvement of another car, a 2003 four-door BMW being driven by Eugene Gamble, 22, of Gainesville, were not immediately available. However, Trooper Murphy noted in his report that Gamble received minor injuries and was taken to North Florida Regional. An investigation into the collisions was continuing on Tuesday and no citations had been written. CRASHES SNARL I-75 MONDAY

(Original article published 6 a.m.) Two collisions involving eight cars and three tractor-trailers on Interstate 75 just north of Archer Road snarled traffic for hours Monday afternoon.

Several people were injured in the wrecks, which happened at the same location five minutes apart Monday afternoon. Troopers said there were no fatalities. As a result of the interstate delays, motorists reported bumper-to-bumper traffic along Archer, Williston and Newberry roads. The first crash happened at 12:05 p.m., a tenth of a mile north of the Archer Road entrance ramp to the northbound lanes. The Florida Highway Patrol said eight cars and a semitrailer were involved and several people were injured. Late Monday troopers were still working to confirm information such as the identities of those involved.

The second crash happened in the same place about five minutes later and involved two semitrailers. Richard Skelton, 30, of Clermont, was driving a 1998 Mack and hauling a hydraulic crane as he headed north on I-75 in the center lane when he was involved in the first wreck.

Directly behind Skelton was Kenneth Mazerolle, 74, of Dade City driving a 1999 Mack and hauling a load of lumber. Trooper Mike Todd determined that Skelton's semitrailer lost its load - the crane - as a result of the first crash. Mazerolle steered to the left to avoid Skelton's dropped load and smashed into the metal guardrail in the median. Skelton, Mazerolle and a passenger escaped without injuries.

Monday night, troopers did not have available the names or extent of injuries to the passengers in the eight cars involved in the wreck. Nor did troopers have information on exactly what caused the wreck.

Traffic on the local roads as well as the freeways had been restored to normal levels by about 6 p.m.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090317/ARTICLES/903171013