At least five children and two adults were killed and seven others critically injured in a fiery crash near Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday.ABC News reports that the crash began when a northbound semi-truck hit a northbound passenger van, and both cars crashed through the guardrail and into the southbound lanes. The semi-truck then hit another semi-truck and passenger van, flipping the van and ejecting some passengers. Five of the children in that van were killed, as were the drivers of both semi-trucks. One of the vans was reportedly carrying children en route to Disney World. Fire officials say that 50 gallons of diesel fuel spilled as a result of the crash. The fire was put out around 5:15 p.m. ET. There is significant damage to the road due to the fire, which closed the interstate for several hours. All northbound lanes and one southbound lane have since reopened. ABC News notes that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cannot investigate the accident until the government is re-opened, as the agency’s investigators are currently furloughed.
