The toll from a series of collisions on a Louisiana interstate surged to eight fatalities and 63 injuries on Tuesday evening, following a day when a “super fog” caused by a marsh fire and dense fog ensnared over 160 vehicles in a fiery pileup, as confirmed by authorities.

Louisiana State Police reported that approximately 168 vehicles were caught up in these incidents.

By Tuesday evening, the number of deaths had increased from seven to eight, and the reported injuries more than doubled, as per a news release from the Louisiana State Police, the Associated Press reported.

Among those injured, at least 63 people sustained various degrees of injuries, ranging from minor to critical, while some sought medical assistance independently, as indicated in the update.

It remains uncertain whether this incident ranks as the most significant crash ever managed by the Louisiana State Police, given the substantial number of vehicles and fatalities involved, said state police Sgt. Kate Stegall in a conversation with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service said there were multiple wetland fires in the region Monday and smoke from the fires mixed with fog to create a “super fog.”

Written by stafff