Crashes occurred amid combination of marsh fire smoke and dense fog, killing at least seven people and injuring another 25
Crews worked into Tuesday morning clearing the wreckage of more than 150 vehicles involved in a series of crashes the day before on Interstate 55 near New Orleans caused by a “superfog” of marsh fire smoke and dense fog that killed at least seven people and injured another 25.
Hazardous driving conditions on Tuesday morning prompted several schools in the area to close or delay.
An estimated 158 vehicles were involved and 25 people injured, according to the Louisiana state police, who warned on Monday night the death toll could climb as first responders looked for victims, the smell of burnt wreckage still heavy in the air.
The crashes began before 9am on Monday and there were several crashes along a one-mile span of the highway, Sgt Kate Stegall of Louisiana state police said in a news briefing. The highway was expected to remain closed at least until the bridge could be inspected for damage in daylight on Tuesday, Stegall said.
The crashes left a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars, trucks and tractor-trailers. Vehicles were crushed, piled atop each other and engulfed by flames.
