At least seven people have been killed and more injured after a “super fog” caused pile-ups on a major interstate road near New Orleans.
An estimated 158 vehicles were involved and 25 people were injured in the incident on Interstate 55, according to the Louisiana State Police.
They warned the death toll could climb as first responders worked into the night looking for victims. Vehicles were crushed, piled on top of each other and engulfed by flames.
A ‘super fog’, where smoke from multiple wetland fires in the region has combined with fog to prevent clear visibility, has been blamed for the crashes.
Among those involved was Clarencia Patterson Reed, who was driving with her wife and niece and could see people waving their hands for her to stop.
When she did her car was hit from behind and on the side by two other vehicles, she told the New Orleans Advocate.
“It was 'Boom. Boom.' All you kept hearing was crashing," Ms Reed said. She was able to scramble out of her car, but her wife was pinned inside and injured her leg.
Another driver, Christopher Coll, said he was already braking when a pickup truck “drove up on top of my work trailer and took me for a ride."
Mr Coll was able to kick open his passenger door to escape and then helped others — pulling out one person through a car window.
While 25 people were transported to the hospital, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, others sought medical aid on their own, officials said.
State governor John Bel Edwards asked for prayers “for those hurt and killed" on Monday and issued a call for blood donors to replenish dwindling supplies.
Louisiana State Police shared aerial photos on their Facebook page showing the crashed cars and extensive debris on both northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate.
State police told reporters at the scene that one vehicle went over the highway guardrail and into the water below but the driver escaped unharmed.
The US National Weather Service said visibility has improved as the fog lifted but similarly dangerous conditions could occur in coming days.
