Bus fire closes southbound Interstate 75

All three southbound lanes of Interstate 75 have been blocked by a burning charter bus. Drivers who are headed south are being detoured onto U.S. 441. The detour is expected to continue for most of Friday morning.

Alachua County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Steve Maynard said the bus was empty except for the driver when the fire broke out at 7:33 a. m. and the driver was able to escape without injury.

The incident happened at mile marker 380, which is two miles south of Williston Road and about a mile south of the rest area at the edge of Paynes Prairie. Several fire crews were dispatched when it became clear the bus was fully engulfed in flames.

Deputies are rerouting southbound drivers at the Williston Road exit. Drivers are being directed east on Williston Road to U.S. 441, then south on U.S. 441 to Micanopy where they are being directed back onto the interstate.

Maynard said the detour will likely remain in effect for most of the morning so that crews can fully extinguish the fire, remove debris and repair any damage to the road surface.