Crews clear wreckage after ‘superfog’ pile-ups leave at least seven dead
An estimated 158 vehicles were involved and 25 people injured, according to Louisiana State Police.
Crews are working to clear the wreckage of more than 150 vehicles involved in a series of crashes near New Orleans caused by a “superfog” of marsh fire smoke and dense fog that killed at least seven people and injured another 25.
An estimated 158 vehicles were involved in the incident on Interstate 55 on Monday, according to Louisiana State Police, who warned on Monday night that the death toll could climb as first responders looked for victims.
The crashes began before 9am on Monday and there were several collisions along a one-mile span of the highway, Louisiana State Police Sergeant Kate Stegall said in a news briefing.
The highway was expected to remain closed at least until the bridge could be inspected for damage in daylight Tuesday, she added.
The crashes left a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars, trucks and lorries. Vehicles were crushed, piled on top of each other and engulfed by flames.
Some people got out of their vehicles and stood on the side of the road or on the roofs of their cars looking in disbelief at the disaster, while others cried out for help.
