Fla. highway reopens after fatal wrecks

A central Florida interstate was reopened Thursday, a day after fog, and possibly smoke from a brush fire, caused a series of crashes that killed four people and injured 38 others.

Workers had to repair a segment of Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando where the asphalt had been scorched by a tanker fire early Wednesday morning. Work was stalled when fog returned to the road early Thursday.

Officials said they would monitor conditions to try to prevent a repeat of the horrific series of crashes — the most serious of which involved more than 40 vehicles.

The tanker truck fire scorched several cars and trucks — including a U.S. mail truck carrying an estimated 500 priority parcels, which were destroyed.

Investigators were searching through medical records to identify those killed. Five people were seriously injured, but officials have not released their names or conditions.

The Florida Highway Patrol moved 70 vehicles to a roadside field to try to piece together the sequence of the crashes.

Heavy fog contributed to the crashes, but officials were investigating whether smoke from a nearby brush fire may also have been to blame. The fire began as a controlled burn but jumped fire lines and scorched 400 acres.