NEW ORLEANS (WVUE/Gray News) – A chain of six crashes involving more than 40 vehicles shut down the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge in both directions for several hours on Tuesday.
A Marine Dense Fog advisory was in effect until 9 a.m. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says visibility was reduced to less than one mile over parts of the lake, including the bridge.
Harrowing video from the crash site showed multiple vehicles, including a semitruck that were mangled messes.
Some vehicles also appeared to have sustained fire damage.
Thirty-three people were hospitalized, according to the St. Tammany Fire District. Most injuries were minor.
The bridge was reopened around 4:15 p.m.
According to Carlton Dufrechou, general manager of the Causeway Bridge, the crashes began around 8:30 a.m. when a thick blanket of fog rolled in suddenly, limiting visibility to less than a tenth of a mile.
“Fog probably was part of it. Some people not paying attention as much as they should have, more than likely,” he said.
The most severe crash occurred near the 18-mile marker on the southbound bridge. A subsequent crash happened almost simultaneously on the northbound side, and a third crash occurred near the 8-mile marker.
Causeway officials confirmed that a police officer responding to the initial scene was rear-ended in one of the collisions but escaped serious injury.
Drivers on the bridge described the scene as chaotic and harrowing.
“It was a domino effect,” Gary Cassard said. “The fog was so thick you couldn’t see a block ahead. I saw multiple cars, including an 18-wheeler, collide and heard what sounded like explosions behind me.”
Cassard, who was near the 11.8-mile marker, said at least one person was pulled from a wreck with a broken leg.
St. Tammany Parish PIO Michael Vinsanau noted the challenge of clearing the bridge, given the large number of damaged vehicles and debris.
“This is a major undertaking. Most of the wrecks were between the 10- and 18-mile markers,” Vinsanau said. “Getting the current vehicles that are on there that are not involved in a wreck off the bridge, but also the ones who they have to get tow trucks in. We’re taking two lanes across 25 miles. So this is not a light undertaking, this is going to take some time.”
Dufrechou echoed calls for caution on foggy roadways, saying that these incidents were preventable.
“Pay attention while you’re driving, please,” he urged.
The Bonnet Carré Spillway was also briefly closed due to fog but has since reopened.
Another chance of sea fog is expected Wednesday morning over the lakes and coastal areas.
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