In a horrific incident, at least seven individuals lost their lives in a calamitous accident on Monday morning in Louisiana. This disaster unfolded as a result of a formidable convergence of what experts are calling a “superfog,” which was composed of smoke from marsh fires in south Louisiana and an intense morning fog. This weather phenomenon led to multiple catastrophic car crashes, involving a staggering total of 158 vehicles.
The repercussions of this tragedy were profound, with twenty-five people suffering injuries, and the possibility of an increased death toll looms as first responders are tirelessly working to clear the accident scenes and search for potential victims, according to a statement from the Louisiana state police issued on Monday evening.
Governor John Bel Edwards has made a heartfelt plea for blood donors and called upon the community to offer their prayers for those affected by this disaster.
Images of the accident site reveal a nightmarish landscape resembling an endless graveyard of vehicles strewn across the bustling interstate near the Manchac community. Cars were not merely damaged but crushed, piled upon one another, and, in some instances, consumed by flames. Onlookers stood in disbelief, while others remained trapped inside their vehicles, awaiting assistance.
Among the survivors was Christopher Coll, who was caught up in one of the pileups. He recounted the terrifying experience, noting that he had begun to slow down when an F-250 pickup truck drove up onto his work trailer, sending him on an involuntary, harrowing journey. Amid the chaos, Coll could smell smoke, hear calls for help, and the cacophony of crashing cars and exploding tires. He managed to escape by kicking open his passenger door and even assisted another individual by pulling them through a car window.
The ripple effects of this disaster were far-reaching, leading to miles of backed-up traffic in both directions on Interstate 55, particularly near the Manchac community. Poor visibility also forced intermittent closures of sections of Interstate 10 and the 24-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.
To rescue stranded motorists, school buses were mobilized, shuttling them from the elevated Interstate 55, which traverses a region of swamps and open waters between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. In a concerning incident, a vehicle reportedly went over the highway guardrail and into the water, although the driver escaped unscathed.
Clarencia Patterson Reed, who was en route to Manchac with her wife and niece when the chaos unfolded, described the horrifying scene. She explained how they saw people frantically waving for her to stop, but before she could react, her vehicle was struck from behind and on the side by two other vehicles. Reed’s wife sustained injuries to her leg and side during the ordeal.
Aerial photos shared by the Louisiana state police on their Facebook page presented a grim tableau, depicting dozens of mangled cars and extensive debris strewn across both the northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate.
As of Monday afternoon, state troopers continued their efforts to notify families, investigate the precise causes of the crashes, and collaborate with the state’s transportation department to assess the bridge’s structural integrity.
Amid the recovery operation, a tanker truck carrying hazardous liquid was identified as compromised, prompting offloading. First responders will reevaluate the situation following the removal of the tanker, and it remains a possibility that additional fatalities may be discovered.
The National Weather Service, via social media, explained that the region was plagued by several wetland fires. The convergence of smoke from these fires with the morning fog created what meteorologists have dubbed a “superfog.” Fortunately, visibility improved as the fog lifted, but the duration of the marsh fires, which were visible and perceptible in the New Orleans area over the weekend, remains uncertain.
The situation prompted some schools in and around New Orleans to cancel classes or delay their openings due to the smoke and fog. The thick smoke emanating from the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge prompted the city to distribute free masks in eastern New Orleans and the Algiers neighborhood on the west bank of the Mississippi River.