Louisiana State Police reported that a catastrophic 158-vehicle pileup occurred on Monday morning along I-55, situated just outside New Orleans. This incident resulted in the loss of at least seven lives, more than two dozen injured and 158 vehicles damaged.
TRAGEDY: 7 dead, 25 injured, 158 cars damaged in foggy crash on I-55 in Louisiana. https://t.co/NGM7z4Tzhv via @newscentermaine
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) October 24, 2023
The exact number of those injured remains undetermined at this time, but reports indicate that no fewer than 25 people were rushed to the hospital, with some in critical condition.
The horrific incident took place during “super fog” conditions.
Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari from The Weather Channel explained the origins of this super fog and its role in contributing to the massive pileup.
It was a particularly dense patch of fog. And if you look closely here on the east side of New Orleans, you can see the origins of some marsh fires that are going on.
And with the wind blowing from the southeast toward the northwest, that was a really unlucky direction for the wind to be blowing in this case because it added some smoke into the picture. Smoke was directly blowing into that batch of dense fog and that creates something called a “super fog.” And that’s what happened on the west side of Lake Pontchartrain with this big pileup on Monday morning.
Watch:
What contributed to yesterday’s awful, deadly pileup in Louisiana? We explain what “superfog” is and how it likely played a role: https://t.co/eTgqNkIXOP
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 24, 2023
Drone footage and video clips show the harrowing scenes in the aftermath of the massive accident. They reveal an extensive line of twisted and charred vehicles.
Numerous cars are stacked on top of each other, forming a chaotic heap.
According to the Daily Mail, many onlookers stood by the roadside or perched on the roofs of their vehicles, gazing at the unfolding disaster, while others frantically called out for assistance.
Here are two videos that show the magnitude of this catastrophic event.
Once the #superfog cleared the extent of the #pileup on I-55 west of New Orleans could be captured by air …
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) October 23, 2023
The extent of the damage is massive, with car fires and cars off the bridge. Sadly, we are hearing of fatalities as a result of the pileup. pic.twitter.com/hJOT5VtzRV
According to the New York Post, many of the vehicles caught fire, adding dense smoke to the super fog-filled sky and complicating rescue operations. At least one vehicle veered off the elevated roadway, plunging into the waters of Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. Fortunately, the driver emerged from this ordeal unscathed, as confirmed by state police.
As of Monday night, none of the individuals who lost their lives have been publicly named, as state police were still in the process of notifying their families, as reported by the Post.
“The Louisiana Department of Traffic Development reported an 11-mile backup,” Fox News reported.
From Fox News:
A long stretch of Interstate 55, a 24-mile-long highway near New Orleans, is expected to be closed “for the foreseeable future,” police said.
For hours after the crash, emergency crews worked to clear debris from both northbound and southbound lanes, according to state police.
Storm Chaser Brandon Clement told FOX Weather that first responders and emergency crews had a large tent with portable restrooms and a communications center to stage the recovery and cleanup.
Police said that a portion of the large crash scene caught on fire shortly after the initial incident.
Photos from the Louisiana State Police show multiple car pileups, with some of the cars being severely burned from the accident.
“Please join me and Donna in praying for those hurt and killed in today’s tragic I-55 crash, as well as their families. The combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog is dangerous, and I want to encourage all Louisianans in affected areas to take extreme caution when traveling,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement.
“I also want to thank the first responders and medical personnel who have worked so diligently to save lives and render aid. The best way you can help them, besides exercising caution on the road, is to donate blood at your local blood donation center. It will help replenish supplies that are being drained today to care for the wounded,” he added.
Gov. Edwards Statement on I-55 Traffic Accident #lagov pic.twitter.com/AHYMsthS2n
— Gov. John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) October 23, 2023
