Stretch Of I-4 Remains Closed A Day After Major Pileup

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — A stretch of Florida highway remains closed Thursday morning after a major pileup left four people dead Wednesday.

The stretch of closed interstate is located between Tampa and Orlando.

Officials say dense fog was a contributing factor to several crashes Wednesday, including a 70-car pileup. Visibility was also limited by smoke from a brush fire that started as a controlled burn but blazed out of control.

A sheriff says a deputy was one of the first people involved in the accident. He says the deputy told him road conditions suddenly got worse as he was driving along the highway, bringing “total darkness.”‘

The accident left almost 40 people injured. A number of tractor trailers overturned and at least six burned completely.