A multi-car pileup on Interstate 55 near New Orleans, Louisiana, has resulted in seven fatalities and over 25 individuals being transported to area hospitals with injuries of varying degrees. The crash, involving at least 158 vehicles, occurred on Monday morning due to heavy fog conditions. The stretch of Interstate 55 over Lake Pontchartrain, along with Interstates 10 and 310, were closed as a result of the accident.
The fog that caused the pileup is being referred to as a super fog and was a result of smoke from marsh fires combined with dense fog in the area. Visibility was significantly reduced, with some spots experiencing near-zero visibility, which created hazardous driving conditions. Super fogs can form when condensed water vapor mixes with smoke and moisture released from nearby fires, making visibility drop to less than 10 feet.
Emergency crews have been working tirelessly to clear debris from the crash scene on both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 55. Unfortunately, a portion of the crash scene caught on fire shortly after the incident, further complicating the situation.
The National Weather Service had issued a dense fog advisory for southeastern Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge to New Orleans area, due to the threat of dense fog worsened by nearby marsh fires. Drivers were advised to use their low-beam headlights if visibility dropped below 500 feet.
While the fog dissipated by mid Monday morning and all fog alerts have been canceled, the threat of super fogs could persist in the coming days and weeks due to extreme drought and wildfire conditions in Louisiana. Over 86% of the state is currently battling extreme drought, elevating the risk of wildfires and the potential for more instances of super fog as cooler temperatures settle in.
State troopers are currently investigating the cause of the crash and working to notify families of the victims. Authorities have not released any further information at this time.
The incident serves as a reminder for all travelers to exercise extreme caution and take necessary safety measures when driving in foggy conditions, especially during periods of heightened wildfire activity.
