Florida Crash: Deadliest Car Accidents and Ways to Prevent a Massive Pileup [Video]

The deadly crashes on the Florida's Interstate 75 left several people dead and many more injured on Sunday as investigators continue to assess the situation.

Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said that multiple crashes occurred around 4 a.m. on the both the northbound and southbound lanes in Alachua County, reported the Associated Press. At least 12 passenger cars and several semi-trucks were involved in the accident that resulted in 10 fatalities. At least 18 people were transported the Shands Hospital in Gaineseville and other hospitals in the surrounding area.

Poor visibility is being blamed for the crashes. A nearby brush fire caused severe smoke to accumulate along the highway. The National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory on Sunday, according to CNN, but authorities allowed the highway to remain open.

You could hear cars hitting each other, Steven R. Camps told the Associated Press. People were crying. People were screaming. It was crazy. If I could give you an idea of what it looked like, I would say it looked like the end of world.

While the deadly pileup in Florida is certainly tragic, it is not the only multiple car accident that occurred in the past decade that garnered media attention and backed up traffic for miles.

New York City Bus Disaster 2011

On March 12, 2011, a tour bus was returning from a casino trip, when the driver lost control of the wheel and scraped along a guard rail, tipping it on its side and slamming into a pole.

The bus had just reached the outskirts of New York City, travelling along the New England Thruway in The Bronx. The driver told police he had lost control trying to avoid a tractor-trailer that appeared erratic on the road. The bus had been returning from a trip to Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut.

The crash happened approximately 5:35 a.m. as about 31 passengers slept on board. The pole went straight through bust, from front to back along the window line, peeling the away the roof, reported Fox News.

Fourteen people were killed in the horrific accident, with 20 passengers injured.

The Fresno Pileup of 2007

Along Highway 99 in Fresno, Calif. over 100 cars, including at least 18 tractor trailers, were involved in massive and deadly pile up on Nov. 4, 2007. Two people were killed and 36 people injured in the fatal series of accidents that backed up traffic for miles.

Authorities investigating the crash believed the cause of the pileup were thick and excessive fog and several drivers travelling at unsafe speeds for the weather conditions. Firefighters who arrived at the scene allegedly heard cars crashing all throughout the day, according to reports.

In connection with the accident, 60-year-old Morris Earl Taylor of San Antonio was arrested for driving under the influence reported ABC. However, California Highway Patrol claimed he was not the cause of the accident.

There was probably two-foot visibility in the fog when I got here. It was really bad, said Mike Bowman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, according to ABC. It looked like chaos. Cars were backed up on top of each other.

50 Car Pileup in Williamsburg, VA 2010

Along the westbound highway on I-64, 50 cars were engaged in a series of accidents due to heavy snowfall on Feb. 10, 2010.

The amount of snow created a so-called white-out condition. This limited the amount of visibility and drastically impacted the

Gov. McDonnel and emergency personal reached out residents of the state, telling them to avoid the highways and stay home. They were worried another major accident could occur.

Firefighters on the scene said it was on the worst accidents they had ever seen. Traffic was backed for approximately 12 miles.

No fatalities were reported, but seven people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, reported The Inquisitr.

Worst Car Crash in Virginia History

Feb. 22, 2000 was reportedly the worst car accident in Virginia's history. A sudden snow storm moved in to create and created white conditions along Interstate 95 after two 65 degree days.

Approximately 10:50 a.m. a massive pileup occurred, halting traffic for hours. Fires broke out and emergency workers quickly reacted.

Our first order of business, said Lt. Charlie Robertson of Stafford's Volunteer Fire Squad, according to CBS, was a report that a woman was trapped in a burning car.

The accident left 1 person dead with 31 more injured. It led to a massive cleanup effort my Virginia's municipal workers. It took nearly 12 hours to final clean up the mess and get the highway moving again.

Maryland Pileup of 2009

Ice and snow conditions caused at least 20 accidents in one night in Maryland's Washington County. The worst accident was caused by 7 tractor trailers and 35 cars along Interstate 70. Two people were killed and about 20 injured and taken to nearby hospitals.

The Red Cross stepped in and helped about 45 people into shelters until road conditions improved.

Heavy snow fall was found to be partly to blame for the accident.

How to Prevent a Major Pileup

Through analysis of the the major car accidents of the past decade, it is possible to find common reasons why they occurred and how to prevent future collisions.

Here are some helpful tips to stay safe while travelling along the highways.

1. Always check the weather conditions before driving. The prevalent theme with these car accidents appears to severe weather and limited sight distance. It is important to know ahead of time what you are driving into so you can properly prepare for what is to come.

2. Take your time. Car Insurance Comparison reported that pileups often occur because people are driving to quickly for the road conditions. It is important to maintain the proper speed and even slowdown as the conditions worsen.

3. Always pay attention. Put down the cell and stop fiddling with the radio, especially on the highways. Distracted driving is one the main reasons why deadly car accidents occur.