Seven people were killed and more than 25 people were injured in a crash involving more than 100 vehicles on a Louisiana highway Monday morning in “super fog.”
Louisiana State Police (LSP) told PEOPLE in a statement that the crash happened on Interstate-55 in St. John the Baptist, located 30 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans.
“The department’s preliminary investigation revealed that at least 158 vehicles were involved” in the pileup from the northbound and southbound lanes, police said.
The LSP confirmed that a total of seven people had died, noting: “Additional deaths may be located.” The deceased have not yet been publicly identified.
“Over 25 people were transported to regional hospitals with varying degrees of injuries from critical to minor. “Many of the victims sought medical help on their own,” the press release states.
In a statement on Facebook, LSP also stated that there was “dense fog” in the area of the accident. Swamp fires in the region and dense fog combined to cause a “super fog,” ABC News reported. This caused visibility to drop to almost zero, making driving dangerous.
Grandfather of 15 identified as truck driver killed in Colorado train derailment: ‘He loved what he did’
Super fog forms when a mixture of smoke and moisture from wet, smoldering brush, leaves, trees and other organic material mixes with cooler air, according to the National Weather Service.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Authorities said two of the three 18-wheelers involved in the crash were “fully engulfed in flames,” local NBC affiliate WDSU reported. In a statement to PEOPLE, LSP said that “part of the accident scene caught fire shortly after the initial incident. One tank truck carrying a hazardous liquid is being unloaded due to a compromised tank/trailer. Once the tank is extinguished and removed, first responders will be able to better assess vehicles in that immediate area.”
‘Wonderful’ Ohio dad dies after car takes off and ejects him on highway
The multi-vehicle crash happened near pole 22 in the area between Ruddock and Manchac, LSP wrote on Facebook.
The ministry said the highway was closed “for the foreseeable future” as “police and emergency crews continue to work in the area of these accidents” as “both the northbound and southbound lanes have large debris.”
“Officers are working diligently to notify the families, investigate the exact cause of the accidents and coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to complete the bridge inspection,” the statement said.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is also in favor x.
“I also want to thank the first responders and medical personnel who worked so diligently to save lives and provide aid,” continued Bel Edwards.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education