Gainesville man helps rescue kids from fiery fatal crash on I-75 in Marion County
Two people died and two kids were among three people rescued from a burning minivan on Wednesday morning following a crash on Interstate 75 in northern Marion County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Marion County Fire Rescue spokesperson James Lucas said the agency was assigned to the call at 10:11 a.m. and arrived on scene about 8 minutes later. The two people in the front seats of the minivan were pronounced dead on scene by firefighters.
Troopers at the scene of the crash, about two miles south of the County Road 318 exit at mile marker 365, said the crash occurred in the southbound lanes of I-75 after a minivan in the center lane clipped the left front tire of a semi without a trailer in the right outside lane.
The collision sent the minivan off the roadway and onto the grassy shoulder, where it eventually struck two trees and burst into flames.
According to FHP, the three backseat passengers, including two children, were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for their injuries. The driver of the semi, who helped pull the three to safety, was not injured.
A witness, Chris Decker, of Gainesville, told a Star-Banner reporter he was traveling behind the vehicles when the crash occurred. He said the driver of the van lost control and barreled into the tree line. He estimated the vehicles were all traveling about 70 mph. Decker said he immediately pulled over and assisted the semi driver with the rescue.
Titus Carter, the semi driver, recalled what happened before and after the horrific wreck. He said the minivan, for whatever reason, came into his lane. Carter, who's from Detroit, said he slowed down and was able to stop.
He got out of the vehicle and rushed to the minivan. There, he said a woman was in the back banging on the window for help. Carter said he opened the back door and removed her from the minivan. Then, he went in and got the two children.
Decker said he took the children, one wearing diapers and the other believed to be under 5, away from the burning vehicle. He believed one was a boy and the other a girl, and they were crying. Decker said he carried the children to his vehicle because he did not want them to see what was happening in the minivan.
Carter said the woman pulled from the vehicle told him the woman behind the wheel was her mother and that the man in the front seat was her brother. She told him she's the mother of the children. The man and woman in the front section of the vehicle were trapped. Carter said he was unable to open the front doors.
There was a loud bang. By this time, Carter said the fire got intense. Decker and Carter said they backed away from the minivan because of the heat.
Emotional, Decker said he wished he could've done more.
FHP officials identified the deceased Wednesday evening as a 49-year-old woman, the driver, and a 15-year-old boy, both of Miami. Those pulled from the vehicle included a 23-year-old Miami woman, and two children ages 2 and 1. The children suffered minor injuries, while the woman had serious injuries.
Though the wreckage was away from the highway, road crews blocked the outside lane, leaving the middle and inside lanes open, so troopers could conduct their investigation.
Southbound traffic was moving slow. Firefighters on scene poured water inside the minivan to make sure everything was safe.
About a couple of hours after the crash, the outside lane was re-opened for motorists.
— Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville man helps rescue kids from fiery fatal crash on I-75
