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UPDATE: Pile up on US 27

By WINK News

Story Created: May 16, 2008 at 1:59 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 16, 2008 at 1:59 PM EDT

HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. - WINK News has learned one person died from injuries they suffered in a series of crashes that happened just east of Clewiston.

Dozens of people suffered minor injuries in the crashes on SR 80 and US 27. All roads in Hendry County and Glades County affected by the closing are now restored to normal traffic operations. All traffic crash sites have also been cleared.

According to FHP, fog and zero visibility may be the cause of the accidents involving more than twenty cars.

View Oldest Comments First

Sunday, May 18 at 10:52 PM Amy wrote ...

Do we know who was killed in the accident?

Saturday, May 17 at 8:23 PM emoney wrote ...

Wats it gonna take for them to put out that fire.

Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 PM LD wrote ...

anyone hear if it was a teacher that got killed or a local person?

Saturday, May 17 at 3:12 PM Sandy wrote ...

There was only smoke, I got on my bike and headed for work in Moore haven was not bad, By the time I came out of Clewiston it was getting thick before I knew it all I saw was white put the blinkers on, slowed down, out of know where I saw the mail truck jacked knifed in the road, I was able to avoid the mail truck hit some debris and into the medium, a jeep hit the mail truck next. we could not even see the whole accident, we ended up beside the flat bed, crushed truck and mail truck.

Saturday, May 17 at 12:43 PM Allison Shea wrote ...

Maybe with the price of gas as it is today-maybe the should lower the speed limit back to 55mph,people just go way too fast on that highway.People don't pay any attention to the road conditions at all they might have a better chance if they went slower.

Saturday, May 17 at 7:15 AM Samantha wrote ...

Our prayers go to victims on these accidents. Everyone needs to think when they drive,drive to the conditions and leave a few minutes earlier to go to school,work where ever.Guess the time and try to aim at 10-15 earlier arrival.You be happier, less frazzled, and 99% of the time safe.

Saturday, May 17 at 5:47 AM Ron wrote ...

Smoke, poor visibility, fog all mean FOOT OFF GAS slow downgive plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front, drive at a speed that you can stop within. If we all did that your insurance would not keep going up and you nite live longer.

Friday, May 16 at 10:33 PM Mike Hunt wrote ...

Zero visibility (whether it be smoke, fog, or both), people were still driving too fast for the conditions, and they are partly to blame. I want to say thank you to our EMS & Fire Dept crews for a quick response and a well done job this morning.

Friday, May 16 at 9:43 PM JE wrote ...

The fatality was not a teacher. My mother was one of the injured in the southbound lanes. One of the teachers from CHS was injured fairly bad but was taken to Ft. Myers and is in the hospital. The other 2 (including my mother) were released from the Clewiston ER and are now home.

Friday, May 16 at 9:40 PM michael sullivan wrote ...

Yes,I saw semi-trucks rear ending each other at full speed.Cops were passing buy and not blocking the road like they should have. If I didn't cut across the median to head back to town I would have got hit too. As soon as turned around and saw 1 wreck, thats when cars & trucks started slamming into one another. The road should have been shut down to begin with. And yes, it was because of smoke from the lake and sinking air that made visibility near zero. PS it happened west of Clewiston.

Friday, May 16 at 9:10 PM heath wrote ...

IT was horrible

Friday, May 16 at 8:32 PM Courtney wrote ...

Im a student from clewiston middle school. I heard that someone lost his leg? idk if it is true though.but i didnt know a teacher died from CHS!?!?!?!

Friday, May 16 at 7:25 PM miranda harrison wrote ...

hi i go to clewiston middle and i was there when the accident happen i was in bus 197 and saw the accident it was horable they needed the jaws of life! and the first crash with the semi's caught on fire and the smoke was soo bad that it caused the second crash and it very sad but i was wondering if they knew who was the person that died? there was one person that passed today due to injuries!

Friday, May 16 at 6:12 PM cheyenne wrote ...

Hello I was watching it was so bab

Friday, May 16 at 4:54 PM leslie wrote ...

i'm a student from clewiston high. which teacherr died?

Friday, May 16 at 3:32 PM kcounts wrote ...

i was just wondering if the weather channel has been reporting wind shift and the sherriff dept knew this why an officer was not riding through area early to check out possible visibility problems so the road could have been closed before the accident happened

Friday, May 16 at 3:27 PM Bobbie Sullivan wrote ...

I am distressed that the reports of the pile up are reporting it was due to fog. I was on the road this morning and the visibility was poor due to smoke from the lake fire. The smoke was so thick, it wasextremely difficult to draw a full breath without coughing. And I have no breathing problems. Will it take another death due to the smoke fire for officials to amp up the efforts to put out the fire?

Friday, May 16 at 2:52 PM Caitlin wrote ...

I was stuck in traffic w/ my mom because she was taking me to school. We got there at 7:00AM & finally decided to leave at 9:00AM. So I did not go to school today. But we pulled off to the side of the road & a cemi was sitting diagonally acroos US 27 & after 10 minutes of sitting there my Mom & I could not see the cab of the cemi! IT WAS HORRIBLE! BUT I HOPE EVERYONE WILL BE OK SOON!