'Superfog' of smoke causes multiple massive car crashes in Louisiana
At least seven people were killed Monday morning after a “superfog” of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog caused multiple massive car crashes involving a total of 158 vehicles, authorities said. (AP)
Number of fatalities may increase
T wenty-five people were injured and the number of fatalities may increase as first responders continue to clear the crash scenes and search for victims, Louisiana State Police said in a statement Monday evening. (AP)
Vehicles crushed, rammed and engulfed by fire
Vehicles were crushed, rammed under one another and some engulfed by flames. Many people stood on the side of the road looking in disbelief at the disastrous scene, while others remained in their car waiting for aid. (AP)
'It was 'Boom Boom', all you could hear was crashing'
“It was ‘Boom. Boom.’ All you kept hearing was crashing for at least 30 minutes,” Reed, who was in the wave of wrecked cars, said. She was able to scramble out of her car, but her wife was pinned inside and injured her leg and side. (AP)
Poor visibility disrupts traffic
Traffic backed up for miles in both directions on I-55. The lack of visibility also prompted closures of parts of I-10 and the 24-mile (39-kilometer) Lake Pontchartrain Causeway at times. (AP)
Debris spread to both northbound and southbound lanes
Aerial photos showed dozens of crashed cars and extensive debris on both northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate, which passes over swamp and open waters between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. (AP)
A vehicle went over highway guardrail and into the water
School buses were summoned to transport stranded motorists from the accident sites. At midday, state police told reporters at the scene that one vehicle went over the highway guardrail and into the water, but the driver escaped unharmed. (AP)
Governor issues call for blood donors
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a call for blood donors and asked for prayers “for those hurt and killed.” (AP)
Several schools in and near New Orleans were shut
Several schools in and near New Orleans announced class cancellations or delayed openings due to the smoke and fog. Smoke from the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge was thick enough that the city announced locations where free masks could be picked up. (AP)
What is super fog?
Super fogs form "when a mixture of smoke and moisture released from damp smouldering organic material such as brush, leaves and trees, mixes with cooler, nearly saturated air," according to the National Weather Service. (AP)
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