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Florida officials investigating fiery crash that left 5 dead

One of those killed was reportedly a child.

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Early Saturday morning, troopers say the bus didn’t stop at the Woodville Highway and Highway 98 intersection, and then a semi hit the bus, aboard the bus were migrant farm workers and their families.

Firefighters said it took them several hours to extinguish the blaze at the scene.

One person was airlifted from the scene.

The driver of the bus had ran a flashing red light, police say.

Elie Dupiche, 56, of Belle Glade, Florida, was driving a 1979 Blue Bird bus and Gordon A. Sheets, 55, of Copiague, New York, was driving a 2005 Freightliner semi truck. Sheets had one passenger, Rafael Nieves, 21, of Sound Beach, N.Y.

FHP was assisted by the Wakulla County and Leon County Sheriff departments.

Patients that left the hospitals on Saturday and others involved in the crash received nursing services overnight at a welcome center set up by the Red Cross, which has also served as a liaison for patient’s families, said Sharon Tyler, chief executive officer of the local Red Cross chapter.

Creel is calling it the worst accident he’s ever seen in the county.

“There was a lot of confusion when the call came out”, said Sgt. Josue Mora, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. Bissainthe said he was unaware of where the bus was headed.

The semi truck disintegrated in the crash, which knocked down a power line, and all that remains is the engine block.

The Tallahassee Democrat (http://tinyurl.com/jju5lf6) reported a gruesome scene strewn with bloody medical gear, clothing, and coolers packed with food littered the road.

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Sheriff Charlie Creel called his deputies “heroes” and explained that they helped people who were unable to escape on their own.

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