On what was originally meant to be a typical Monday morning with rush hour traffic to work, a horrific 158-car accident completely devastated I-55 in Louisiana just outside of New Orleans. You’re probably wondering what could’ve caused such a terrible wide-scale accident like this…and the answer is dense fog.
Louisiana State Police reported the aftermath of a 158 car pileup along I-55 just outside of New Orleans on Monday, October 23. With seven fatalities and multiple critical injuries, this devastating accident has shaken the nation to its core.
The exact number of wounded is still unknown, but at least 25 have been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
What contributed to yesterday's awful, deadly pileup in Louisiana? We explain what "superfog" is and how it likely played a role: https://t.co/eTgqNkIXOP
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 24, 2023
The gruesome scene was caused by a combination of “super fog” and marsh fires in the area. Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari from The Weather Channel explains that smoke from the marsh fires directly blew into the dense fog due to an unfortunate wind direction. This created something called “super fog,” which made visibility incredibly difficult on I-55.
Drone footage shows a long stretch of mangled and burned cars piled on top of each other; it’s no wonder so many drivers were unable to evade disaster in time.
Once the #superfog cleared the extent of the #pileup on I-55 west of New Orleans could be captured by air …
The extent of the damage is massive, with car fires and cars off the bridge. Sadly, we are hearing of fatalities as a result of the pileup. pic.twitter.com/hJOT5VtzRV
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) October 23, 2023
Clarencia Patterson Reed was one of many survivors who witnessed this tragedy first hand – she told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate that she heard cars slamming into each other for at least half an hour before help arrived.
Another driver said his vehicle was taken “for a ride” after he slammed on the brakes when he spotted a pickup truck ahead of him with no lights on in the thick fog.
Miraculously, one driver somehow escaped unscathed after their car went over into Lake Pontchartrain and Maurepas however, state police are still working to notify families about their loved ones who lost their lives in this awful accident.
