New Delhi: Eight people were killed, at least five dozen injured and 168 vehicles were damaged on an interstate in Louisiana during a “super fog” that left visibility near zero. Troopers identified an additional victim of the crash who died at a local hospital, increasing the fatality count to eight individuals. The crash on Interstate 55, involving at least 168 vehicles, occurred Monday morning due to heavy fog conditions, according to Louisiana State Police, Fox News reported.
The Louisiana Department of Traffic Development reported an 11-mile backup. Additional fatalities could be located once the crash scene is completely cleared, police were quoted as saying, adding that a long stretch of I-55, a 24-mile-long highway near New Orleans is expected to be closed “for the foreseeable future.”
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.
