A fire that started in the cabin of a semi truck on Saturday afternoon shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Alachua County for an hour.
The truck, driven by 46-year-old Clifford Morse of Ocala, became fully engulfed in flames at 2:16 p.m. Saturday at Mile Marker 393 on I-75, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Morse and a passenger, 41-year-old Lynn Hardy also of Ocala, escaped the truck unharmed.
The flames became a hazard to passing motorists forcing the closure of the southbound lanes. The northbound side of I-75 was shut down for approximately 10 minutes due to safety concerns. The Florida Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Alachua County Fire Rescue, High Springs Fire Department and the Lacrosse Fire Department.
