Five were killed and the Turnpike was closed both ways for about 50 miles because of a deadly crash near Kenansville involving multiple cars, tractor trailers and emergency vehicles.
Investigators said lingering smoke and dense fog was to blame, and that people may have let their guard down after passing the scene of a nearby brush fire.
At one point the turnpike was closed for 90 miles. Five people were killed in the chain-reaction crash that happened on the Southbound side, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The FHP said the initial crash was caused was considered a fender bender. It happened at 8:30 a.m. A firetruck and a Sheriff's car responded to the accident.
Then a tractor-trailer loaded with utility poles smashed into the firetruck, leaving 96 feet of skid marks. The fire engine was pushed into the deputy's vehicle.
Troopers said the accident happened so fast that three of the involved drivers never even hit their brakes.
One Sheriff's car, one fire truck, five semis, two pickup trucks and two cars were involved in the wreck. Two additional cars struck debris.
Deputy Marcus Bryan of the Osceola Sheriff's Office was hit by the car and one of the utility poles. He's expected to fully recover. One driver was taken to the Holmes Regional Medical Center in critical condition and another driver was taken there in serious condition.
All lanes of Florida's Turnpike from U.S. 192 in Kissimmee to S.R. 60 in Yeehaw Junction are now open
The process was slow as the Osceola Fire Department peeled the layers of debris away. Sgt. Jorge Delahoz from the Florida Highway Patrol said that all drivers have been accounted for.
We are now learning the names of some of the victims of the crash.
They are 68-year-old Jimmy Daugherty, who was driving the semi that was hauling logs on the road. He is from Gainesville.
69-year-old Anita Zoet from Boynton Beach also died, as did 60-year-old Rosette Vanhooydonck from Kissimmee.
The two victims from Belgium were passengers in a car. Their names have not yet been released.
The crash left many members of law enforcement stunned.
"In the 13 years I've been on, I've seen a lot of crashes," said Kim Miller, FHP. "That's probably the worst damage I have seen on the cab of a tractor-trailer. It was so damaged we couldn't even see what was in there."
The crash also injured several people including Osceola Deputy Marcus Bryan. He was hit while trying to help with the initial crash.
Law enforcement says he and others are alive thanks to quick work by rescuers.
The Turnpike was shutdown in the same area Monday because of the fire. The FHP said there's no smoke currently in the area. The fire has consumed between 40 and 50 acres.