NEW ORLEANS – The death toll in a massive pileup on I-55 west of New Orleans, caused by a dangerous combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog, was revised down after additional forensic examination. Louisiana State Police reported the initial death toll at 7, which later rose to 8 due to confusion “due to the intense fire and the extensive wreckage.”
The catastrophe left a mile-long bridge littered with the remains of cars, SUVs and semi-trucks, resulting in at least 63 people injured. Despite efforts to clear the scene, the cleanup process was complicated by a tanker truck carrying hazardous material that caught fire.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards urged people to donate blood to replenish supplies drained by caring for the wounded, as approximately 100 people were left stranded on the interstate following the multi-vehicle pileup. The hazardous conditions caused by wildfire smoke and dense fog created what is sometimes referred to as “superfog,” drastically reducing visibility for motorists.
In an interview, driver Chris Vanacor described the scene on the bridge as a terrifying ordeal with multiple vehicles crushed and 18-wheelers set ablaze. The dense fog advisory was in effect at the time of the crashes, with visibility reduced to one-quarter to one-half a mile in some locations.
The hazardous combination of wildfire smoke and dense fog had been a hazard for motorists in the past, including in Florida in March 2022. Locals had been complaining for days about the strong smell of smoke from a fire burning near Bayou Sauvage, sparked by a lightning strike on July 29.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, which was overseeing the fire, was unable to reach the area with fire trucks due to being surrounded by water. Another nearby fire in Lafitte was also sending smoke into the area, further contributing to the hazardous conditions.
Efforts to clear the scene were ongoing, and anyone who witnessed the crashes was encouraged to contact state police. The affected stretch of the interstate was partially reopened on Tuesday morning, marking a step towards recovery in the aftermath of this tragic event.