Thick fog, smoke causes crash, closures on U.S. 27 in Highlands County

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Thick smoke from a nearby brush fire and foggy conditions caused several crashes on U.S. Highway 27 in Highlands County, officials said, when visibility went from passable to zero within minutes.  

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office said the smoke was generated from a fire in the Leisure Lakes area, which was sparked by a lightning strike on April 13. Earlier, Florida Highway Patrol reported it was a prescribed burn. Florida Forest Service said they have the fire under control, but because it is a heavy brush fire, it will continue to smolder.

One crash occurred at 7a.m. when a southbound pickup truck slammed on the brakes when the smoke and fog began to thicken, losing some construction material. A semi-truck also stopped due to the low visibility, and by 7:20 a.m., a car ran into the back of the semi, but there were no injuries. This occurred just south of Sebring Lakes Boulevard. 

The crash led to another southbound semi-truck stopping on the road, and was rear-ended by a car.  A flatbed semi-truck behind the car, attempted to swerve left, but clipped the rear of the vehicle. The car ended up on its nose and wedged between the two trucks. The driver was transported with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. A Corvette approached the scene and swerved into the right shoulder to avoid the wreck, but clipped the side of the flatbed.

Two other crashes occurred in the northbound lanes of U.S. 27 near Lake Francis, during this time, with no reported injuries. 

Around 7:30 a.m., Florida Highway Patrol closed U.S. 27 from Lake June Road and Palmetto Drive due to the low visibility, but roads reopened within a couple of hours.