I-55 Multi-Car / truck wreck and fire(s) in the fog.

[bwana39]

Yesterday there was a 150+ vehicle series of crashes on both the northbound AND southbound elevated structures of I-55 between Pass Manchac and I-10 on Interstate 55 in rural Paroisse de Saint-Jean-Baptiste (St. John the Baptist Parish) . Seven of more lives were lost. Several vehicles burned. DOTD is trying to get the wreckage off the structures to see if there is any structural damage. They hope to have it reopened to traffic later today.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/23/us/louisiana-fog-i55-crash-new-orleans/index.html

[Bobby5280]

An Interstate bridge over a swamp and waterway is a pretty terrifying location to have a massive pile-up. Motorists couldn't pull off the road to escape the additional collisions that just keep happening. They're trapped on the bridge.

I just can't understand people driving blindly into fog (or smoke, heavy rain, etc). If I'm in bad enough weather and can't see enough road in front of me I'll pull over and stop. I'm not going to win any money or tough guy bonus points by driving blind.

[Rothman]

I also wonder about people stopping right on the road in dense fog.  Our drivers just aren't trained.

See also the I-476 fuel tanker fatal crash that happened over the weekend.  Someone got a flat tire and didn't pull off the road.

[edwaleni]

[bwana39]

Apparently parts of the bridge is still closed with traffic detoured to "the low road" IE old US-51; a two lane road with shoulders. (Currently St John PR-51)

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/i-55-remains-closed-following-fatal-crash-here-are-some-alternate-routes/289-d9ac6690-78e0-428a-97fd-22444494f41c

[bwana39]

https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=34119
https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=34183
https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=34202


It is still far from completely open.