NEW ORLEANS — Early morning fog and smoke from a marsh fire burning in New Orleans East caused near-zero visibility on Interstate 10 between Irish Bayou and Michoud, traffic authorities report. The weather event is called a "Super Fog."
Authorities report the crashes happened at about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday at least four accidents happened involving 11 vehicles in the area due to poor visibility.
According to NOPD Seventh District Captain Wayne DeLarge, three separate crashes occurred on the eastbound lane. One involving five vehicles with one fatality. A second involving a motorcycle and an automobile and another involving two vehicles.
In the westbound lane, there was a crash involving four vehicles, one of which included an overturned 18-wheeler.
All lanes I-10 eastbound lanes have reopened in the area, as well as two of the three westbound lanes at Irish Bayou. The right lane remains closed as cleanup continues.
NOPD said the crash victim was a man who was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries sustained in the crash. At least eight other motorists were injured during the incident.
Drivers were urged to avoid the Interstate and Highway 90 and instead had to take I-12 to the Causeway Bridge as an alternate route.
Due to heavy traffic on the Causeway as a result of the Interstate closure, tolls were waived so drivers wishing to cross on the Causeway will not have to pay a toll.
Super Fog was the cause of October's fatal multiple-vehicle crash on I-55.
