Tragic ‘super fog’ causes 7 fatalities in enormous US highway collision

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NEW ORLEANS, Oct 24, (Agencies): A “super fog” event in Louisiana has resulted in a massive multi-car pileup on Interstate 55 near New Orleans. The incident, which drastically reduced visibility, took place according to local law enforcement. The crash involved a staggering 158 vehicles and was triggered by heavy fog conditions on a 24-mile stretch of Interstate 55, which runs over Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans. Authorities have indicated that this section of the highway is likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

In the aftermath of the pileup, Interstate 10 and Interstate 310 were also closed. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement confirming the accident. Tragically, seven fatalities have been confirmed, and more than 25 individuals have been transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from critical to minor. Law enforcement officials have expressed concerns that additional fatalities may be discovered as the crash scene is further cleared.

Emergency response teams spent hours removing debris from both the northbound and southbound lanes. At one point, a section of the crash site on I-55 caught fire after the initial incident.

The “super fog” was a result of a combination of smoke from marsh fires in the region and dense fog that developed on an early Monday morning. This created extremely hazardous driving conditions with near-zero visibility in some areas. Super fogs typically form when condensed water vapor mingles with smoke and moisture released from smoldering organic materials like brush, leaves, and trees near a fire. The National Weather Service explains that this can reduce visibility to less than 10 feet.

This weather phenomenon has been recurring in the region in recent mornings, with the densest fog and most treacherous conditions shifting from day to day. Super fogs are particularly perilous when they develop near or over highways because they can cause visibility conditions to deteriorate suddenly over short distances. This combination of rapid visibility reduction and high-speed highway travel creates a dangerous situation for drivers.

The National Weather Service had issued a dense fog advisory for much of southeastern Louisiana on that Monday morning, spanning from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. In light of this, state police advised drivers to use their low-beam headlights if they couldn’t see at least 500 feet ahead.

The fog eventually dissipated by mid-morning, and all fog alerts were canceled. While there remains the possibility of smoke from ongoing marsh fires in the area, weather conditions were forecasted to be less conducive for fog development on Monday night.

Morning fog is typical for this time of year in the region, but over 86% of the state is currently grappling with severe drought conditions, heightening the risk of wildfires. This could lead to more instances of super fog in the coming days and weeks as cooler temperatures settle in, while the drought and wildfire danger persists.

Furthermore, Louisiana is grappling with devastating drought and wildfire conditions. Over 60% of the state is now classified under “exceptional drought,” the most severe category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Just three months ago, none of the state fell into this category.

Governor Edwards issued a warning about the dangerous combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog, urging all residents in affected areas to exercise extreme caution when traveling.

State troopers are actively working to inform families affected by the crash and investigate its exact cause. Media inquiries were directed to the Louisiana State Police by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Additional information was not immediately available, and ABC News’ request for comment to Louisiana State Police has not yet received a response.

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