At this hour, theres no word on their condition. The intersection has been reopened. And two former disney world employees are suing the the company. They say they were among 250 tech workers illegally layed off and later replaced with cheaper immigrant workers. Disney is calling the lawsuit an unsustainable legal theory and a misrepresentation of the facts. This morning, residents of the northeast are still digging blizzard. Students in washington, d. C. , baltimore and philadelphia are getting a second snow day. The deadly storm left more than 2 feet of snow in that area. All right. Its 53 00 1. Leigh spann you know, we are much warmer today. You might still need a light jacket for us, 46 is cool just warmer than yesterday. 55 sarasota. Need. Yesterday at 5 30. City. And 18 degrees warmer in lakeland. And increasing clouds throughout the day but also increasing temperatures. We are already seeing a thin layer of cloud and that will thicken throughout the day and really bring problems for us tomorrow. In weather and traffic on the 8s, i will let you know how much rainfall we could see and its a lot. Thank you so much. We want to take you back to the breaking news. This is a live picture right now and it could impact your morning commute. Just look at the pictures of the fiery accident involving a van and a tractortrailer. At this time, the interstate does remain closed in both directions. Which is a very big deal for commuters. We have Team Coverage of the accident. News channel 8s ryan hughes is at the scene and leslee lacey has alternate routes for commuters this morning. And lets start with leslee. Its definitely a problem. Its going to add about 25 minutes on to the commute because its both directions. Again, this is north of bearss avenue. And theres quite a distance between bearss and the next ramp which is i75. This area is completely closed. Traveling northbound, you have to exit bearss avenue and bruce b downs will take you up to 75. From pasco county and say youre headed down to the tampa bay area, what you need to do is take 75 and then continue on 75 depending on where youre headed or exit bruce b downs and bearss will take you back to 275. But definitely a problem spot out there on the roadways. So keep that in mind. And again, its both directions. That is a look at weather and traffic. Back to you guys. Or actually, lets go to ryan and get a live update from the scene. Ryan, whats it look like now . Reporter leslee, good morning once again. Within the last half hour, we learned some traffic got by, a road block on the southbound lanes and thats why we said they were reopened. But we just learned more troopers were sent up there to stop the traffic because roughly a dozen vehicles got by. And they likely went through this debris field in the southbound lanes. You might be able to make out some workers there clearing the roadway after this horrific accident. And we have video from earlier to show you right now. Were told by fhp that the wreck happened around 11 45 last night. A Passenger Van was stalled in the center lane of southbound i 275 with the lights off. Thats had a semi came barreling down the interstate the van. The van burst into flames and were told the driver was pronounced dead onscene. That person has not been identified at this point. The semi came to wrest in the northbound lanes of 275. The driver was not hurt. It was hauled away within the and again, another live look at both the southbound can the northbound lanes of i275 at roughly mile marker 56. We are told that these lanes are expected to be closed for a little while longer. We will be out here and bring you updates as we get them. Gayle, back to you for now. Yeah, hopefully they get them open soon. Thanks. And download our breaking news app so you can stay on top of breaking news no matter where you are any time of the day. The commute for thousands of people who travel between downtown st. Pete and downtown tampa is just a step closer to easing up a bit. At a meeting this afternoon, Pinellas County commissioners are expected to pass a resolution that would allocate 350,000 toward a highspeed ferry between the two cities. It will allow test runs to start october 15th of this year. The impact will then be evaluated for six months. We have an update on a deadly fire from sunday. What caused the deadly fire that killed john conley. Three others were hurt. The building did not have a Sprinkler System because it was built before florida fire code required them. Seven Pinellas County sheriff deputy recruits are out of a job this morning after cheating on agency exams. According to the sheriff, the deputy recruits cheated on the Field TrainingProgram Written and oral board exams. They also lied about it. Supervisors suspected they had cheat when had they received perfect scores on the first phase of the exam. The sheriff believes honesty is a prerequisite for deputies. Thats what we do, make sure that the rules are followed and you cant have people doing it that dont respect the rules. Nine other recruits took the exams without getting the answers in advance. The sheriff tells us the exams were not that hard. Well hector the stole cockatoo is now the stolen cockatoo is now back home. Hector into his backpack caught the attention of a woman who ended up pet sitting the 2,100 she called the Pinellas Sheriffs Office and before long, hector was back home again. Detectives are now trying to locate the man who stole hector. Theft. Theft. And now a safety alert. Robbers are targeting victims through popular dating apps. So far, four people have been targeted in bartow and now one victim speaking out trying to warn others. News channel 8s Lindsey Mastis has the morning alert. A lot of people are using the now. What do we do to using the dating apps now so what do we do to protect ourselves . Reporter the victim thought he was doing everything to stay safe but he learned it was all a set up. Then he made me get on the ground by the bush, face down and a gun to the back of my head. Something as petty as a car. I cant replace him. Reporter he and his family are speaking out. They believe the robbers will continue to target people until theyre stopped. The robbers took his car, cellphone and wallet. This is just one of four cases that happened in the past month in bartow. Right now, investigators are looking for leads and warning people to take extra precautions. In addition to meeting in public, they wreck mend bringing along a friend and letting a loved one know exactly where you plan to be. Wow, scary because youre so naturally trusting and you think youre going to have a nice time on a date. And so many people use the apps so you have to be careful. Thanks. Lets get a check on weather and traffic on the 8s. The the first thing you will notice when you walkout side is how much warmer. For us, you may still need a light jacket but you wont need it for long. From 59 degrees at 8 00 a. M. Thats warmer than we were all day yesterday. And remember how yesterday afternoon felt really warm. We keep warming up. 73 at 3 00 at 3 00 p. M. And tomorrow, 80 rain chance. Some of the storms could be strong. Obviously heavy downpours and this continues aislemoving system through continues a slowmoving system through thursday. Even tomorrow morning around this time we could be seeing widespread areas in that green, thats a. 25 to maybe. 50 in places. During the day on wednesday, we could see the heavy downpours that could bring widespread areas of 1. 5. And remember isolated spots could see more than that. You add in thursdays rain and thats where youre up to the 2, possibly 3inch category. So a wet couple days after today. And lets check on weather and traffic on the 8s. At least the roads are dry because were busy. Theyre dry but we have major issues going on. I have been mentioning it all morning and we still have expressway. Come down to gunn highway and that will add about 15 minutes on the commute. But the Biggest Issue we have is 275. Weve got a full closure in effect here. And that is because we have a fatal accident. So theres an investigation and also cleanup going on. As i zoom in, i just want you to know that the closure is bearss avenue. You cant get by here on 275. How do you get around it . Downs. Out of pasco county, take 75 and loop around. This is at least 25 minutes by lights. A live look, you can see for still out there. And you can see the crunched up van at the top there. And thats because it actually exploded after a semitruck it. You can see semitruck hit it. Hopefully it will be brand up within the next hour or so. I will keep you posted throughout the morning. Gene, gayle heavily traveled stretch of highway there. A Health Care Provider is offering free leadtesting for families in flint. The latest on the the water crisis there next. Also, a policeinvolved shooting caught on camera in orlando. How the video can help in the investigation of the events. Plus, exciting news for parents. How would you like a smart stroller . Look mom, no hands. Yep, an electric engine. Dont miss the design. Youre watching news channel 8 a Police Pursuit escalated into a fiery rescue mission after two childrens stranger a man pulled up asking for help looking for his dog. The kids told a parent who then the kids told a parent who then called 911. An engine fire. Police had to pull the suspect if the van. And luckily no one was hurt. Happening today, a Health Care Provider is offering free lead testing for families in flint, michigan concerned about their childrens health. They are hosting the event this afternoon for children up to six years old. Additional free testing has been schedule for the first week of february. The National Guard has been in flint for weeks providing fresh bottled water. City leaders in Atlantic City will discuss filing for bankruptcy. The mayor claims without the states help, all options must be considered. He noted governor and president ial candidate Chris Christie recently vetoed a bill that would have provided financial assistance. Police released dramatic video of an officerinvolved shooting that started with a minor traffic violation. Police say it started with a seat belt infraction. The report states the driver kept moving back and forth in a stolen car. Two officers tried to the stop him. [ gunshots ] shots fired. Shots fired. Put your hands up do it now police some wild video there. Were told the driver was shot in the shoulder but then kept driving. The officers finally caught up with the suspect and took him to the hospital. Well today could be a big day for animal lovers and advocates. The florida legislation born from a dog bite could move forward in the house. Under house bill 91, the current law could be reprieved. It would allow pet owners an appeal when their dog bites someone. She bit a child who cornered here. Fish and wildlife officials are trying to solve this mystery. These images are thousands of star fish washed ashore. Researchers say factors such as temperature change or the recent case of red tide could have caused the starfish phenomenon. An 8 on your side health alert this morning. A new survey on over the counter medications is delivering alarming data this morning. It included doctors and more than a thousand patients and the results show many people could be putting themselves at risk for an overdose because theyre ignoring labels on medications. 43 of people reported taking more than the recommended dose. You have got to watch this, especially parents out there. Tell me what you think on social media after you see this story. Its something that could make your daily tasks easier. Its called the smart bee. This to be a selfpropelled stroller. The electric engine will make walking uphill easier. And it features a bottle warmer, music, a rocker to keep the baby soothed and calm, cameras and also three canopies. The official release for the 3,000 stroller, yep, its set for next year. 3,000 . You have to do a collection at the baby shower. Thats a lot of chipping in. If you are a homeowner, this is a sight you dont want to see, your home dangling from a cliff. This morning residentses of one california apartment complex are not waking up in their own bids. They have been ordered to get out due to the fears this structure will fall into the pacific ocean. The apartments are located near cliffs that are crumbling, in part due to the current el nio winter. Global warming, you know, iceburgs are melting, the high are taking more of you know, excavating more of the cliffs. The police chief says its reached a point where no one can live inside, however some residentses say they have no plans on leaving despite the order and previous evacuations from the building. They must have had a beautiful view. Oh, my goodness. How scary to even look over the balcony and see straight down. I would evacuate if told to do so. Milder conditions this morning. Still a touch cool for us. This is our coolest time of the year. And we warm up to 67 at noon. And warmer than all day yesterday. And then 73 at 3 00 p. M. With more clouds. So like i said, a touch cool, were at 50 in auburndale. A lot of this has to do with the southeast wind flow. We are still above average today. Boy do things worsen overnight tonight. This is just 24 hours from now around 5 45, already pockets of heavy and throughout the day tomorrow, off and on heavy downpours with the slow moving cold front. And some storms may be strong and theyll continue into thursday as that area of low pressure begins to cross the state. The good news is, its dry today and it will be dry for the pirate parade on saturday. Leslee, how about traffic on the 8s . Any updates . Well, we have one update and good news here. Traveling on ehrlich road, they have cleared the construction where it was blocked at the veterans expressway. So you can now pass underneath. So thats great news there. And not so good on 275. Its still completely blocked both directions, folks, of the interstate is actually closed at this point between bearss and the northern apex. You cant travel between this thats where all the act the the activity is from from the crash. You are looking at about a 25 minute circle here to get around it. So allow for extra time. We are not seeing major congestion because traffic is light but nonetheless, tall lights tough go through nonetheless, all the lights you have to go through. Just north of bearss, theres debris in the roadway from the crash where a semitruck ran into a van that was stalled out in the middle of the road without the lights on. And the explode and the person inside the van was killed and the roadway is still blocked as the investigation and cleanup cons. Thats a look at weather and traffic on the 8s. Back to gene and gayle. Thank you. Just ahead, she spent 20 years looking for him. Yeah, and a decadeslong search many people would have already given up on. Find out how one woman reunited with her bilogical father. Its 5 50. Youre watching news channel 8 well a dog in alabama is recovering after he ran a half marathon. Yep, you heard that right. The blood hound turned up at the starting line and trotted she finished in 7th place and was presented with a finners medal. Look how proud. Yeah. Holding up her head. The owner who was not running didnt know about her dogs fame until a friend gave her a call. How crazy. She didnt even register for the race. No, theyre going to send her a bill now. Right. Well a father and daughter have a lot to catch up on this morning after an unexpected reunion. They hadnt seen each other in 20 years the the. Idaho woman actually had seen him in the store before but she didnt realize it was her father. But one day he walked in and asked her to check the balance on his food stamp card. When she read the name on the card, they had the emotional shock of their lives. I said, youre my bilogical father, i have been searching for you for over to years. I dont want to cry. Reporter did you miss her . A lot. Although her father is in her life and if all goes well, invite him to live with her. Incredible. Weather and traffic on the 8s is three minutes away. Plus, we will update you on breaking news this morning. A big fiery crash. Yeah, this is happening on interstate 275. It is closed at this hour. Leslee lacey is going to be following this. And we have team coveraging for morning and we will tell you you like being picture perfect. You should want your banking to be too. Stop into td bank and well help set you up with picture perfect banking. New customers, open a checking and savings account and you can get a polaroid cube time for weather and traffic on the 8s. Already were 10 to 20 degrees warmer than this time yesterday. And temperatures get to 73 with increasing clouds and even after midnight, i start to introduce at least a small rain chance. Warmer tonight at 63, bigger entering the forecast tomorrow. Ill run down the timing coming up. Leslee, how is 275 . Well, right now, southbound 275, Pinellas County right now, some vehicles have arrived to pick up construction here. Take anway. But a big crash still has 275