TIMELINE: 3 dead after 5 crashes close 18-mile stretch of I-95 in Volusia County

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — All lanes on I-95 have reopened. Click here for continuing coverage.

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7:00 p.m. update

The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the driver of a semi-truck involved in the crash as a 51-year-old man from Hialeah. They identified a second driver as a 54-year-old man from Titusville who was driving a 2017 Jeep Renegade. Both were pronounced dead at the scene on the southbound side of I-95, according to FHP.

They identified the third person killed in the crash only as a 25-year-old woman. Troopers say she was a passenger in a 2022 Nissan on the northbound side of the highway.

Investigators are still working to identify multiple people taken to Halifax Hospital and a child who was flown to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando.

All lanes of the highway remain blocked in both directions.

Video: ‘You couldn't see anyone’: ‘super fog’ blamed for deadly multi vehicle crash in Volusia County “That’s why all this stuff happened here, because you couldn’t see anyone. I couldn’t see my hand.” (WFTV)

12:45 p.m. update

Investigators blamed the crashes on what they called “super fog.”

“There was almost zero visibility in the area because a mix of smoke and fog,” said Lt. Kim Montes.

Johnny Johnson said he was forced to slow down when his rig was slammed from behind. His truck was one of 17 vehicles involved in five crashes near State Road 442 around 1:30 a.m.

“We came on down the road and all of the sudden everything went white you couldn’t see nothing,” Johnson said.

Traffic backups started early as all ramps on and off I- 95 were shut down for 18 miles.

Video: 3 dead after 5 crashes close 18-mile stretch of I-95 in Volusia County (Q McCray, WFTV.com)

11:45 a.m. update

The Florida Highway Patrol said I-95 remains closed in both directions in Volusia County.

Troopers are asking drivers to plan an alternate route for the rest of the afternoon while they clean up the crashes.

Channel 9′s Q McCray will be live at the crash scene on I-95 at noon.

Click here to watch his live update.

10:50 a.m. update

I-95 remains closed in both directions in the New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater area while troopers investigate several crashes in the area.

Northbound I-95 traffic is being rerouted at County Road 5A. Drivers can reenter the northbound lanes at State Road 44.

Southbound traffic is being rerouted at State Road 44. Drivers can reenter the southbound lanes at State Road 442.

Photos: 17 vehicles involved in 5 crashes along I-95 in Volusia County

Crews will need to repair the roadway before opening the lanes to traffic.

The roadway closure is anticipated to last throughout the day and into the evening time.

Drivers traveling on I-95 in or through Volusia County are encouraged to seek alternate routes

10 a.m. update

Troopers said they just reopened the southbound entrance ramp from State Road 442 to southbound I-95.

Updated traffic closure:

Northbound I-95 traffic is being rerouted at County Road 5A. Drivers can reenter the northbound lanes at State Road 44.

Southbound traffic is being rerouted at State Road 44. Drivers can reenter the southbound lanes at State Road 442.

8:15 a.m. update

Channel 9′s Q McCray found out that a red SUV involved in the crash was towing a motorcycle.

The SUV was sandwiched between two tractor-trailers. The driver was killed in the crash.

The northbound lanes were damaged due to the crash and fire.

Photos: Several vehicles involved in deadly crashes along I-95 in Volusia County

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An emergency paving crew will repair the lanes once debris from the crash is removed.

The road closures are as follows:

I-95 northbound is closed at State Road 5A (mile marker 231) to State Road 442. Drivers can re-enter northbound I-95 at SR-442.

I-95 southbound is closed at State Road 44 (mile marker 249) to State Road 5A. Drivers can re-enter southbound at SR-5A.

Troopers said the southbound side will open first.

Video: 3 dead after 5 crashes close 18-mile stretch of I-95 in Volusia County (Q McCray, WFTV.com)

7:40 a.m. update

The Florida Highway Patrol gave an update about the deadly crashes Interstate 95 crash.

Troopers said at about 1:30 a.m., there was zero visibility along I-95 as smoke and fog mixed together.

Here’s a breakdown of the crashes:

Northbound lanes

There were four separate crashes involving 11 vehicles on the northbound lanes.

One person died in the crash and several others were taken to hospitals, including a child. The child is in stable condition.

There were no other life-threatening injuries.

Southbound lanes

There was one crash involving six vehicles on the southbound lanes.

The crash involved four tractor-trailers, a van and a SUV.

Troopers said a tractor-trailer driver and the SUV driver died.

Troopers said a couple of the semis burned down in the crash.

The stretch of I-95 will likely be shut down for several hours.

The Florida Department of Transportation is going to see if there is any significant damage to the road.

Lt. Kim Montes had a warning for drivers if they come upon a similar event: “Decrease your speed. When we have a hazard, we need people to take that foot off of the gas pedal and slow down.”

7:15 a.m. update

Troopers are giving an update about the I-95 deadly crashes. Click here to watch live.

6:15 a.m. update

At least 15 vehicles were involved in five separate crashes along Interstate 95 early Thursday.

Several people were taken to hospitals, including children.

Channel 9′s Q McCray said the crashes involve several semi-trucks.

A driver of a Jeep Wrangler and a semi-truck driver were killed in a southbound crash.

We are still working to learn more about the crash on the northbound side.

The stretch of I-95 will be closed for several hours as crews clean up the crashes.

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5:20 a.m. update

The Florida Highway Patrol reported four separate crashes on the northbound side of Interstate 95 and one crash on the southbound side.

Here’s what we know now:

READ: What is ‘super fog?’

• Two people died in crashes on the southbound side.
• One person died in a crash on the northbound side.
• One child was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital. They are in stable condition.
• An unknown number of people were taken to Halifax Health.
• The number of vehicles involved in the crash has not yet been confirmed

Video: What is ‘super fog?’

4 a.m. update

Troopers have shut down a lengthy stretch of Interstate 95 in both directions in Volusia County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, troopers responded to the Edgewater area for what they described as “at least three separate, multi-vehicle crashes.”

Here is what Eyewitness News has learned from FHP:

• The crashes happened in both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-95.

• The crashes are in the area of mile marker 244.

• I-95 is shut down between State Road 44 (mile marker 249) and State Road 5A (mile marker 231)

• At least 15 vehicles are involved, including semi-trucks.

• There are three fatalities among three the crashes, including:

• One crash southbound with two fatalities.
• Two crashes northbound with one fatality.

• Several people have been hospitalized, including children.

• Several medical choppers responded to the incident.

Video: At least 3 dead after 3 fiery crashes close 18-mile stretch of I-95 in Volusia County

WFTV’s Alexa Lorenzo is monitoring the crashes and working to find alternate routes.

Channel 9′s Q McCray is on scene gathering details from troopers.

Watch Eyewitness News beginning at 4:30 a.m. for live team coverage of this breaking story.

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