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- THE WEEK, Page 22SOCIETYHighway Through Hell
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- Gangs turn a Florida interstate into a mobile killing zone
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- As if hurricane Andrew wasn't bad enough for Florida's
- tourism industry, now the state is facing a man-made disaster:
- snipers taking potshots at cars along Interstate 295, conduit for
- some 80,000 vehicles a day around downtown Jacksonville and the
- primary route for East Coast snowbirds headed south for
- Florida's beaches.
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- Since February more than 150 shootings and rock throwings
- have been reported by drivers along the 15-mile stretch of
- highway. Police have confirmed 37 attacks, one death and three
- injuries. After the American Automobile Association warned
- motorists to avoid I-295 this month, National Guard troops began
- patrolling in military vehicles and helicopters. Despite the
- precautions, three more shootings were reported. Then police got
- a break. Two teenage gang members were arrested on attempted
- murder charges in the shooting of a motorist. The troops aren't
- going home just yet, however. Police believe other gangs may be
- involved too.
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