Major traffic accident in Louisiana in the southern USA due to dense fog: Up to 158 vehicles involved. The consequences of the chain collision are devastating: seven dead and 25 injured. The accident occurred on Interstate 55, the highway that crosses the state, on a two-lane stretch that crosses Lake Pontchartrain in St. John the Baptist, about 30 miles northwest of New Orleans.
Massive pile-up in Louisiana (USA)
What limited visibility even further was a fire that had developed in a nearby swampy area. In some places the smoke and fog was so thick that you couldn’t see it even from a few meters away.
Firefighters, police and emergency services faced apocalyptic scenes: burning cars, others crumpled, vehicles on top of each other, a car that ended up in the water and, above all, seven lifeless bodies and dozens of injured people. 25 of them are hospitalized, and many others have sought medical attention themselves, according to authorities. The fire in a truck that spread to broken down vehicles nearby made the impact of the accident even more dramatic, and calling it a “chain accident” almost seems like an understatement.
As the fog cleared, many drivers stood on the side of the road and watched the scene in disbelief, while others stayed in their cars and waited for help. The highway and nearby arterial roads are closed to traffic and are expected to remain so for several days.
As soon as the #superfog clarified the extent of the #stack up on I-55 west of New Orleans could be caught by air…
The extent of the damage is enormous, with car fires and cars sliding off the bridge. Unfortunately, we are hearing about deaths as a result of the pile-up. pic.twitter.com/hJOT5VtzRV
– WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) October 23, 2023
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