At least seven people were killed after a "superfog" of smoke from southern Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog caused multiple massive car crashes Monday morning involving a total of 158 vehicles, authorities said. Twenty-five people were injured and the number of fatalities may increase as first responders continue to clear the crash scenes and search for victims, Louisiana State Police said in a press release Monday evening. Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a call for blood donors and asked for prayers "for those hurt and killed." Videos of the wreck showed what looked like an endless junkyard of cars overtaking the busy interstate near the community of Manchac, the AP reports.
Vehicles were crushed, rammed under one another, and some were engulfed by flames. Many people stood on the side of the road looking in disbelief at the disastrous scene, while others remained in their car waiting for aid. Christopher Coll, 41, was among the drivers in one of the pileups. He told the Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate he could smell smoke as he heard other drivers calling for help and the sounds of crashing cars and popping tires. He was able to kick open his passenger door to escape and then helped others—pulling out one person through a car window. Another person who was caught in the wave of wrecked cars says, "It was 'Boom. Boom.' All you kept hearing was crashing for at least 30 minutes."
Louisiana State Police shared aerial photos on their Facebook page showing dozens of crashed cars and extensive debris on both northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate, which passes over swamp and open waters 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. On social media, 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 it was unclear how long the marsh fires, smoke from which could be seen and smelled in the New Orleans area over the weekend, would be a factor.
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