LA PLACE, La. — Editor's note: On Friday, Oct. 27, Louisiana State Police reduced the number of victims to seven fatalities rather than eight following a forensic investigation.
Louisiana State Police say an eighth person has died following the crashes on I-55. Eight families are now mourning the loss of a loved one.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development said they don't shut down the interstate because of fog. One woman who lost a close friend in the crash says they should.
Qutub Singh Negi was traveling in the southbound lanes of I-55 on Monday. "He thought he would have an early start. Normally, he never leaves this early," a family friend of his, Raj Punna, told WWL-TV. "This, I believe, was one of the first times that he left at 9 a.m. He will be known for his goodness, for his expertise and his personality."
Singh Negi was a father of two and worked as an executive chef at Punjabi Dhaba in Kenner. Punna says he died in one of the three crashes on I-55.
"He was one of the most gentle persons I've ever known, very polite, very respectful. In fact, all his customers who ever visited the restaurant always said that he's so nice and they want to come back," she said.
According to Louisiana State Police, an eighth person died in hospital following Monday's crash. LSP says at least 168 vehicles were involved, and 63 people were injured.
Louisiana State Police says DOTD bridge inspectors found in their preliminary investigations that multiple areas require bridge repairs.
Rodney Mallett with DOTD says fog is very different from ice and flooded roadways. He says crews can prepare for icy conditions and usually can predict what roads will flood.
"We can pre-stage salt. We can pre-stage barricades. We can do what we can to keep the road open and once it ices and it's impassable, we can put out a notice and say that it's closed."
Dr. Stephen Murphy with Tulane University said Monday's conditions could be seen again if the dry weather continues and marsh fires keep burning.
"We have two marsh fires burning in the Southern Louisiana area, and with the fog that was forecast," he said. "When you have that particulate coming in through those burning materials, the particulates get into the atmosphere and that moisture that is already present in the fog, kind of clings to those particulates."
He said there needs to be a discussion about when driving on our roads is just too dangerous. "Maybe there are some highway warnings that can be issued.
"There would be a lot of interstate closures and state highways closures if we close every time it was foggy."
As for Punna, she's asking state agencies to close the interstate if we see a super fog again, "I think anytime there's heavy fog, we should take the responsibility of shutting it down, I know it's going to upset a lot of people because they're going to work, but we'd rather be safe than sorry."
According to LSP, a comprehensive structural inspection will take place once the bridge completely clear of debris, diesel, and other chemicals.
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