At least 1 dead, 6 hospitalized in fiery Florida multi-car crash

Authorities in Florida say at least one person has died and six more were hospitalized in a fiery 8-car crash that shut down part of an interstate.

News outlets report a tractor-trailer appeared to be burning on the side of Interstate 75 near Tampa on Wednesday night as emergency crews responded. Pasco Fire Rescue announced on Twitter that firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. Department photos also showed multiple heavily damaged cars alongside the stretch of highway.

I-75 UPDATE: 6 patients transported, 2 additional patients evaluated, and 1 fatality. 75 NB remains closed. Initial count of 8 vehicles involved. Firefighters putting out hot spots. #Breaking #PCFRNews pic.twitter.com/8iD88uGlK0

— Pasco Fire Rescue (@PascoFireRescue) November 14, 2019

In addition to the fatality, the agency said six people were transported to a hospital and two others were checked out by emergency crews on scene. The Tampa Bay Times reports one patient was classified as a “trauma alert.” No one involved was identified by State Highway Patrol troopers. The agency is investigating.