At Least 7 Killed in Crashes Involving 158 Vehicles on United States
- AP Photo
Bangkai Mobil bekas Kecelakaan di AS
- AP Photo
Louisiana State Police shared aerial photos on their Facebook page showing the crashed cars and extensive debris on both northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate, which passes over swamp and open water between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas.
As of Monday afternoon, state troopers were still working “to notify families, investigate the exact causes of the crashes” and coordinate with the state’s transportation department to have the bridge inspected.
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.
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.
The National Weather Service said there were multiple wetland fires in the region. Smoke from the fires mixed with fog to create a “superfog.”
Visibility improved as the fog lifted, according to the agency, but similarly dangerous conditions could occur in coming days.