Two people died and two kids were among three people rescued from a burning minivan on Wednesday morning following a crash on Interstate 75 in northern Marion County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Marion County Fire Rescue spokesperson James Lucas said the agency was assigned to the call at 10:11 a.m. and arrived on scene about 8 minutes later. The two people in the front seats of the minivan were pronounced dead on scene by firefighters.
Troopers at the scene of the crash, about two miles south of the County Road 318 exit at mile marker 365, said the crash occurred in the southbound lanes of I-75 after a minivan in the center lane clipped the left front tire of a semi without a trailer in the right outside lane.
The collision sent the minivan off the roadway and onto the grassy shoulder, where it eventually struck two trees and burst into flames.
According to FHP, the three backseat passengers, including two children, were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville for their injuries. The driver of the semi, who helped pull the three to safety, was not injured.