Dense fog on the morning of Friday, January 25, 2002 contributed to a massive motor vehicle collision along I-75 in a rural area of Collier County, Florida.  Three adult males, ranging in age from 24 to 49, were killed and 13 people were injured.  All three men died immediately from blunt force trauma, according to the Medical Examiner, and had to be extricated from their respective vehicles.

Access to the site was limited by both its remote location and the massive traffic backups, which ensued following the multiple collisions along the Interstate.  Weather conditions precluded the use of helicopters.  Therefore, five ambulances from the Collier County EMS were used to transport all of the victims to Naples for treatment.  None of the injuries proved to be life threatening and the patients were released from the hospital.  Six victims were taken to the Community Hospital and another seven patients were transported to the Cleveland Clinic.

The incident occurred between mile markers #85 and #86 on I-75 in an area known as Alligator Alley, which is the major east/west thoroughfare in southern Florida.  A total of 27 vehicles, including 17 tractor-trailer trucks, were involved in 8 separate collisions, which were spread out over a distance of 1/2 mile.  The incident, which occurred just before 05:00 hours, shut down I-75 in both directions for approximately 8-1/2 hours literally backing up traffic from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.  Eastbound lanes were not opened until 14:30 hours at 18:15 hours both westbound lanes were finally opened for traffic.

It took 58 emergency responders to manage the incident, including units from the Florida Highway Patrol, Collier County Sheriff’s Department, Collier County EMS, and the Golden Gate Fire Control and Rescue District.  Rescuers were assisted at the scene by personnel from the County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Red Cross.

Following the removal of the dead and injured, a massive cleanup effort was required to restore traffic in both directions.  Inmates from the Hendry Correctional Institution were bused in to help in the effort, which required the services of a number of heavy-duty wreckers, front-end loaders, and dumpsters.  Due to the damage sustained by a number of the trucks, cargos had to be transferred to other vehicles in order to be removed from the scene.