'Superfog' leaves at least 7 dead, 25 injured in vehicle pile-ups near New Orleans
At least seven people are dead after heavy fog caused more than 150 vehicles to crash Monday on Interstate 55 in Louisiana.
Public safety teams were still investigating at the site of the crash, which occurred Monday morning on both the north and southbound of the freeway, which links the greater New Orleans area with Hammond and Jackson, Mississippi along a north-south route between I-10 at Laplace and the Mississippi state line near Kentwood. A stretch of I-155 over Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans was expected to remain closed "fore the foreseeable future."
More than 25 individuals were transported to area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries from critical to minor, according to state officials. Many victims sought medical assistance on their own.
"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,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a released statement.
According to the Louisiana State Police, three 18-wheelers were involved and at least two were fully engulfed in flames. One tanker truck carrying a hazardous liquid was being off-loaded due to a compromised tank. Once the tanker was removed, first responders were able to better assess the vehicles in that immediate area. It is possible that additional fatalities could be located during that time.
The zero visibility conditions known as "super fog" affect air quality and are a combination of condensed water vapor, smoke, and moisture. On social media, the National Weather Service said there were multiple wetland fires in the south region.
Updates this morning from the US National Weather Service used a graphic map to show where the dense fog advisory is in effect. The advisory covers metro New Orleans, metro Baton Rouge, the Houma/Thibodaux area, and begins to form over northern parts of metro Baton Rouge. The dense fog advisory has also expanded to include areas around New Roads, Jackson, and St. Francisville as of this morning, There are more concerns about super fog possibly forming on I-12 between Denham Springs and Livingston.
It is advised to use low beams, slow down, keep ample distance between your vehicle and the one ahead, and do not stop on the road if you encounter dense fog.
Bel Edwards additionally asked for prayers "for those hurt and killed in today’s tragic I-55 crash, as well as their families."
Once the scene is clear, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development inspectors planned to begin cleaning and inspecting the bridge. I-55 is expected to be closed for the foreseeable future.
All updates will also be posted to the Louisiana State Police Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 'Superfog' outside of New Orleans leaves 7 dead, 25 injured in vehicle pile-ups
