Drone video shows just one of the 25 reported pileups on I-55 this morning. Super fog knocked visibility down to zero which triggered the crash. Video from above shows the charred remains of a truck that caught fire. FOX Weather talks to another trucker about the gridlock she encountered on the road.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. – Both directions of Interstate 55 northwest of are closed after a series of multi-car pileups killed seven people in zero visibility.
Drone footage shows the aftermath of a few of the 25 chain reaction accidents in Louisiana caused by super fog.
(Louisiana State Police / Facebook)
Marsh that have been smoldering since July flared up. A combination of the and fog has been choking out greater New Orleans for two days. The NWS issued Dense Fog Advisories for most of southern and . Meteorologists called this . Moisture was released from the damp, smoldering marshes and knocked visibility to below 10 feet.
Drone footage near the accidents takes us above the fog and we can see the smoke from the burning vehicles mixing in.
(Ryan Helg/ Stinky Mud Photography / FOX Weather)
Just before 9 a.m. on northbound lanes, about 18 tractor-trailers crashed between Ruddock and Manchac. Three of the semis were fully engulfed in flames, spreading to other vehicles. Another multi-car chain reaction accident blocked southbound lanes. The reported an 11-mile backup.
Officials preliminary investigation showed that at least 158 vehicles were involved in this morning’s crash. Seven were said to be killed, and more than two dozen were transported to area hospitals.
-
Image 1 of 6
One pickup truck hit a Ford F-150 so hard that the Ford ended up on top of the other. (Michelle Charbonnet)
-
Image 2 of 6
One pickup truck hit a Ford F-150 so hard that the Ford ended up on top of the other. (Michelle Charbonnet)
-
Image 3 of 6
Super fog caused the chain reaction accident. (Michelle Charbonnet)
-
Image 4 of 6
Drivers and passengers were stranded on the elevated highway. (Michelle Charbonnet)
-
Image 5 of 6
Visibility was near zero. (Michelle Charbonnet)
-
Image 6 of 6
At least one car went over the guardrail. (Michelle Charbonnet)
reported that there was also a third major pileup. The remainder of the accidents occurred near the major three. Authorities said that a dozen agencies were called in to assist. Crews have even been called in on their days off.
Survivors video shows the miles of destruction on I-55.
(Credit: Ka’Miyah L’Oreal Tymes via Storyful / FOX Weather)
One eyewitness told FOX Weather he thinks close to 75–150 vehicles were involved. He was taking his daughter to the airport when he had to stop short to avoid the crash.
He said that he couldn’t see the cars ahead of him; he noticed the stopped cars on GPS and then hit the brakes.
A car on a road below the elevated highway got this video of a car or truck in flames through the fog.
( Credit: @BETSwithBeezy via Storyful / FOX Weather)
“I happened to be in a little pocket of about probably 15 cars with no damage,” said Lance Scott. “And probably two or 3 seconds after we came to a stop, you just heard boom, boom, boom, boom, collision after collision behind us.”
Trucks ended up on top of others with the force of the collision. This was I-55 south of Machac.
(NSGladiators/X / FOX Weather)
His daughter, an ICU nurse, as well.
“And all the paramedics started coming down southbound on the northbound lane and just kind of basically set up a little triage as they pulled over,” said Scott. “They were taking some people on gurneys over the railing to ambulances, get them out of here.”
Storm Chaser Brandon Clement told FOX Weather that first responders and emergency crews had a large tent with portable restrooms and a communications center to stage the recovery and cleanup.
Storm Tracker Brandon Clement describes the scene of multiple pileup crashes on I-55 in Louisiana. He took drone video which shows cars that went over the edge of the bridge, masses of burnt out vehicles and miles of crushed cars.
Fire trucks had to pull up to the base of the elevated roadway and extend ladders into the air against the elevated roadway to reach the accident and victims.
To reach accident victims, fire trucks had to use ladders from the marsh below.
(FOX 8 NOLA / FOX Weather)
His photos showed a pickup truck wedged under a Ford F-150 truck. He said he smelled burned rubber and could hear burning tires popping.
At least one vehicle was pushed over the rail of the elevated highway, according to the sheriff. The driver and passengers were injured but are still alive.
Meteorologist Steve Bender explains how the super fog formed in Louisiana that caused the deadly pileup near New Orleans.
“I just don’t know how, the way that this interstate set up being elevated over water with no crossovers, how you get the wreckers in here to start pulling these vehicles off to the side of the road to create a pathway for the vehicles to move forward,” Scott said fearing he would be there for several hours.
Video taken by I-55 crash survivor Lance Scott shows the wreckage after super fog caused a deadly pileup on the Louisiana interstate
(Lance Scott)
The DOTD also closed I-10 on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain in both directions for hours. Drivers were diverted onto 310. There were several accidents reported near that intersection in very low visibility.
Several schools in the area already announced a delayed start time for Tuesday as the dangerous fog and smoke combination is forecast to reform overnight.
The Louisiana State Police reported on social media that “I-55 is expected to be closed for the forseeable future.” Troopers are notifying families and investigating the exact causes of the crashes. The DOTD is inspecting the roadway and bridges and attempting to clear “extensive debris.”
Check back for updates on this developing story.