Six people dead after huge pile-=up involving FIFTY cars on I-57 in Missouri

At least six people are confirmed dead and dozens are injured after a multi-vehicle pileup in Missouri involving up to fifty vehicles Thursday morning. 

The massive wreck was caused by someone braking late in heavy fog around 8am. The Mississippi County EMS believes a driver hit the brakes, causing a chain reaction on Interstate 57 near Charleston.

The Mississippi County coroner’s office in Missouri confirmed on Thursday at least five fatalities, local news station 23WIFR reported. 

A mobile morgue was 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.’ 

Several agencies worked to help 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 pileup on I-57 in Charleston, Missouri, involving up to fifty vehicles. WIFR reports that the pileup was caused by someone braking late in fog

Police also reported vehicle fires, including several 18-wheelers; at least one person was airlifted to receive medical care

Smoke billowing from vehicles on I-57 following a fatal pileup involving 50 cars, the coroner’s office later confirmed at least five fatalities

People help one of the wounded after the pileup 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.

The state DOT said the stretch of I-57 from I-55 to the Illinois state line likely will be closed for several hours. 

‘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.’ 

Highway Patrol asked the public to avoid all roads leading into I-57. 

Harrowing videos from the scene show trucks on fire and smoke billowing for miles. Police reported several 18-wheelers on fire, and at least one person was airlifted to receive medical care. 

Among those taken to hospitals were two emergency responders, local news station KFVS reported. Several others were treated at the scene.  

 The Missouri Department of Public Safety said in a statement: ‘This is a major incident with multiple crashes involving several tractor trailers and fatalities’

Firefighters worked on putting out a fire after a fatal pileup along Interstate 57 near Charleston 

Among people taken to hospitals were two emergency responders. Above, officials work on clearing the road 

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 pileup on I-57 in Charleston, Missouri involving up to fifty vehicles

Highway Patrol is still conduction a ‘large-scale’ clean-up at the scene

Source: DailyMail