SEVEN people have died and at least 25 more are injured after a massive 158-car pile-up crash in Louisiana.
Haunting footage shows burnt cars littering the road after the wreck on Interstate 55 near New Orleans on Monday.
APSeven people are dead after a massive pile-up crash near New Orleans[/caption]
APTwenty-five others were injured in the wreck on Monday morning[/caption]
Fox8liveThe cause of the crash has been blamed on ‘super fog’[/caption]
Cops warned on Monday night that the number of deaths could increase as they work to clear the crashes that occurred in both the north and southbound lanes.
The first crash was reported at 9 am, as super fog, a mix of dense fog and smoke from marsh fires, blanketed the area.
The thick fog made it difficult for drivers to see more than 10 feet in front of them, according to the National Weather Service.
Up to 18 tractor trailers collided and three became fully engulfed in flames, which spread to other vehicles.
Chain reaction crashes followed the initial wreck and one car ended up in the water below the highway after it was sent flying over a railing.
The crash scene was so severe that first responders and other workers were called in on their day off to respond to the wreck.
HAUNTING SCENE
Clarencia Patterson Reed, 46, said that she was on the road on Monday morning when she noticed fog thickening around her.
She stopped her car before hitting the driver in front of her, but other vehicles could not stop and crashed into her.
“It was ‘Boom. Boom.’ All you kept hearing was crashing for at least 30 minutes,” Reed said.
Reed was able to remove herself from her car, however her wife Lisa Patterson Reed, 56, was injured in the vehicle.
“We’re grateful because we’re alive. We’re here to tell you what we see up here because some people will not get that chance. It’s bad,” Reed said.
Christopher Coll, 41, who was on his way to work, also described his frightening experience as he first drove into the foggy pileup.
“I was already on the brakes, slowing down when an F-250 drove up on top of my work trailer and took me for a ride,” Coll said.
A pickup truck crashed into Croll, pushing him into the pileup. In order to escape the wreck, he had to push open his passenger door.
Luckily he wasn’t injured, however, his car was completely totaled and all of his work tools destroyed.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It was horrible. It was the worst wreck I’ve ever seen,” Coll said.
Around 100 people were said to be left stranded after the pileup and officials had to use school buses to transport victims to safety.
HAZMAT CONCERNS
First responders said they haven’t been able to reach one area of the crash site as hazardous material on a tanker truck has yet to be fully offloaded.
“The tractor that pulls the tank is damaged, so they’re gonna have to offload the chemical from that one to a backup tanker, which they’ll have to bring to the site,” Department of Environmental Quality Press Secretary Greg Langley told local Fox affiliate WVUE-TV.
Cops aren’t sure how long it could take to clear all the cars.
After clean-up, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will inspect the bridge for any deficiencies.
As they continue their work, first responders and the state governor have called on the public to give blood to help victims of the horrific wreck.
Governor John Bel Edwards said: “Please join me and Donna in praying for those hurt and killed in today’s tragic I-55 crash, as well as their families.
“The combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog is dangerous, and I want to encourage all Louisianans in affected areas to take extreme caution when traveling.
“I also want to thank the first responders and medical personnel who have worked so diligently to save lives and render aid. The best way you can help them, besides exercising caution on the road, is to donate blood at your local blood donation center.
“It will help replenish supplies that are being drained today to care for the wounded.”
APInterstate 55 will remain closed to drivers overnight[/caption]
APState police explained there were three clusters of crashes[/caption]
Fox8NolaTerrifying footage shows the low visibility and ‘super fog’ that has been blamed for the crash[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
