At least five people are confirmed dead and dozens are injured following a car pile-up in Missouri involving up to fifty vehicles on Monday morning.
The pile-up was caused by someone braking late in fog around 8am. The Mississippi County EMS believes the driver hit the breaks, ensuing a chain reaction on Interstate 57 near Charleston.
The Mississippi, Missouri, County Sheriff’s Office declined to release the number of fatal victims on Thursday afternoon, but the coroner’s office later confirmed at least five fatalities, local news station 23WIFR reported.
A mobile morgue has been set up at a funeral home in Charleston.
‘As we approached the interstate, it was a very thick fog, you couldn’t – the visibility was less than 50 feet, so, the traffic had already backed up,’ Director of the Charleston Department of Public Safety Robert Hearne told the outlet.
‘We had multiple accidents on both sides of the interstate, the north and the southbound lanes were shut down.’
Multiple agencies are working to help all involved and clear the scene, local authorities said.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Missouri Highway Patrol and the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Multiple people are dead following a car pile-up on I-57 in Charleston, Missouri involving up to fifty vehicles. 23WIFR reports that the pile-up was caused by someone braking late in fog.
Police also reported vehicle fires, including several 18-wheelers, and at least one person was airlifted to receive medical care
Smoke billowing from vehicles on I-57 following a fatal pile-up involving at least 40 cars
People help one of the wounded after the pile-up on the I-57 on Thursday afternoon
The Missouri Department of Public Safety said in a statement: ‘This is a major incident with multiple crashes involving several tractor trailers and fatalities.
‘Both directions are closed and there is a large-scale cleanup underway as well as continuing major-crash fatality scene investigation by Missouri State Highway Patrol. There is no estimated time for reopening I-57.’
Harrowing videos from the scene shows trucks on fire and smoke billowing for miles.
First responders at the scene say there are multiple fatalities. The coroner’s office later confirmed at least five deaths.
Police also reported vehicle fires, including several 18-wheelers, and at least one person was airlifted to receive medical care.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed at least one of the deaths but EMS at the scene say there are multiple fatalities
Firefighters work on putting out a fire after a fatal pile-up along Interstate 57 near Charleston
Among people taking to hospitals were two emergency responders. Above, officials work on clearing the road
Among people taken to hospitals were two emergency responders, local news station KFVS reported. Several others were treated at the scene.
Highway Patrol is still clearing the scene. Law enforcement has asked the public to avoid all roads leading into I-57, as they’re being shut down due to traffic and emergency vehicles.
The Missouri Department of Transportation said the stretch of I-57 from I-55 to the Illinois state line will be likely closed for several hours.
Pictures posted on social media show lines of cars at the site of the accident and black smoke stretching into the sky.
Highway Patrol is still clearing the scene. Law enforcement has asked the public to avoid all roads leading into I-57, as they’re being shut down due to traffic and emergency vehicles
Harrowing videos from the scene shows trucks on fire and smoke billowing for miles
Multiple people are dead following a car pile-up on I-57 in Charleston, Missouri involving up to fifty vehicles
Highway Patrol is still conduction a ‘large-scale’ clean-up at the scene
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