BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, a devastating collision on a Louisiana highway involving at least 168 vehicles has claimed the lives of eight individuals.
Among the victims was Qutub Singh Negi, a 40-year-old executive chef at Punjabi Dhaba in Hammond and Kenner, according to fox8live.com, who was a father of two and a beloved member of the community.
Negi's life was tragically cut short as he was en route to work on that fateful Monday morning on October 23rd, near New Orleans.
Impaired visibility leads to devastating pileup
The catastrophe unfolded amidst what has been described as "super fog," a climatic condition that severely limited visibility for the drivers.
This "super fog" was a result of a combination of natural fog and smoke from nearby marsh fires, creating an environment of near-zero visibility.
Raj Pannu, a close friend of Negi, shared insights into his daily routine, revealing that he usually set out for work around 11 am. However, on the day of the accident, he departed earlier, at 9 am, to deliver boxed lunches.
Pannu also provided a glimpse into the grief and sorrow that has engulfed Negi's family. The chef had recently celebrated his 15th wedding anniversary.
Pannu spoke about Negi's wife, saying, "I can't even describe. She is talking, then she cries. She shows me pictures of all the good times they had. All we can do is give her the moral support and tell her to be strong."
Aftermath of tragic 168-vehicle pileup on Louisiana highway
The tragic pileup led to 63 people sustaining injuries, and the chaos caused a section of the highway to catch fire.
One particularly alarming aspect was the destruction of a tanker truck carrying hazardous materials, further complicating the response efforts.
Distressing images shared by the Louisiana State Police depicted a vehicle teetering on the edge of the highway, partially submerged in water below the intersection.
St John Sheriff Mike Tregre disclosed that a total of 25 crashes occurred, involving three 18-wheel trucks, two of which went up in flames.
Efforts to clear the wreckage and hazardous materials from the I-55 have been ongoing, with attention now turning to the necessary repairs for the damaged bridge.
Structural inspectors are on-site, identifying multiple areas requiring attention, and a comprehensive examination will be conducted once the bridge is clear of debris and chemicals.
As the investigation continues, the I-55 remains closed in both directions from I-10 to Ponchatoula.
The enormity of this tragedy and its impact on the community has led friends of Negi to establish a GoFundMe campaign to support his grieving family and raise funds for his funeral, which is scheduled for November 3rd.
