The death toll from Monday's multi-car crash caused by "super fog" on Interstate 55 near New Orleans has risen to eight dead and 63 injured, Louisiana State Police said. While the death toll initially stood at seven, one of the injured died in hospital during the night.
The accident, which involved at least 168 vehicles, happened on Monday morning as heavy fog conditions significantly reduced visibility.
The "super fog" was caused by smoke from wildfires burning in the region combined with dense fog that developed in the area early Monday morning, bringing extremely poor visibility. Visibility was close to zero in some places.
"Super fogs" typically form when condensed water vapor mixes with smoke and moisture released from moist organic material smoldering from a nearby fire, such as brush, leaves and trees, the US National Weather Service explains. As a result, visibility can be reduced to less than 10 feet.
MJ/ABC
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