FHP: Fiery crash on I-75 in Gainesville kills 1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A fatal crash involving three semi-trucks and four other vehicles that killed one person on Interstate 75 in Alachua County closed the roadway for hours forcing drivers to take alternate routes.

The Alachua County Fire and Rescue Department said around 5:15 p.m. three semi-trucks were leaking fuel and one caught fire on I-75 near the Archer Road exit.

One person was found dead at the scene.

Five other people were injured and two of them were transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville in critical condition.

There was no word whether the semi-truck caught fire before or after the crash. An ACFR HazMat team responded and controlled one of the leaks

Sand was brought in to absorb the fuel on the ground.

Southbound lanes of 1-75 remained closed through the evening while officials investigated the accident while The northbound lanes of I-75 reopened around 11 p.m., but southbound lanes remain detoured onto U.S. 441 until 5 a.m. Thursday.