ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH, La. — Seven people -- not eight -- were killed in the wreck on I-55, according to a release from Louisiana State Police on Friday.
State police said that the conditions on I-55 after 168 cars were damaged led officials to report that eight people had been killed. Law enforcement are now saying those estimates were incorrect.
"Due to the intense fire and extensive wreckage, the initial investigation led troopers to believe that there were a total of eight victims," Louisiana State Police said officials said. "It has been conclusively determined there are no additional or unknown victims of this tragic incident other than seven identified victims."
On Thursday, The St. John Parish Coroner's Office identified the seven victims that were killed in the wreck near Manchac, La.
The victims include:
- James Fleming, 87, Lake St. Louis, Mo.
- Nakia Gaines (father), 49, New Orleans, La.
- Mason Gaines (son), 6, Madisonville, La.
- Fernando Francisco DeMoraes, 49, Chalmette, La.
- Jose Elias Valle, 37, Chalmette, La.
- Corinne Hebert, 21, Plaquemine, La.
- Quatab Singh Negi, 47, Hammond, La.
On Friday morning, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said they would spend the weekend working on southbound side of I-55, keeping that side open to traffic. DOTD said the southbound construction could take up to two weeks.
Meanwhile, the northbound side has been closed, as of Friday DOTD did not release an update on when that side would be reopened.
