Fatal Accident in New Orleans: Seven Killed in Massive Collision Triggered by Intense Fog

A dense "super fog" caused a major 158-car pile-up near New Orleans, resulting in the death of at least seven people. The fog, combined with fumes from multiple marsh fires, severely limited visibility for drivers on Monday. Police reported that 25 people were injured in the crash on Interstate 55 in St John the Baptist Parish, and warned that the death toll could increase. Several vehicles caught fire and were abandoned, leaving behind burnt-out wrecks and twisted metal. The motorway will remain closed until at least midday on Tuesday. Lt Melissa Matey stated that a portion of the crash scene caught fire, and one tanker truck carrying a hazardous liquid needed to be off-loaded due to a compromised tank. Fortunately, one driver who was forced off the road and into the water was safely rescued. St John the Baptist Sheriff, Mike Tregre, estimated that approximately 100 people were stranded, and school buses were being used to transport them to their destinations. According to Clarencia Patterson Reed, one of the drivers involved in the pile-up, she managed to avoid hitting the car in front of her, but the vehicles behind her began crashing into her car. She described the scene as continuous crashing for at least 30 minutes. Reed was able to escape her car, but her wife was trapped inside and sustained injuries. The National Weather Service in New Orleans referred to the weather phenomenon as a "super fog" and cautioned that similar dangerous conditions could occur later in the week.