Cleanup continues after massive chaos at Causeway Bridge | A Tammany

Dozens of vehicles raced across the fog-shrouded Lake Pontchartrain Causeway early Tuesday, resulting in at least six separate multi-vehicle crashes that sent at least 11 people to the hospital and left a trail of debris that forced officials to close the bridge for more than eight hours , as they struggled through an extensive cleanup operation.

“It’s a mess,” Causeway CEO Carlton Dufrechou said at one point as reports of new wrecks continued to come in. “Just a mess.”

A St. Tammany Parish fire official who was among the emergency responders said 33 people reported injuries. Eleven were transported to area hospitals, Dufrechou said. Dozens more people were stuck on the bridge for hours, stuck behind the rubble.

As for the number of vehicles involved, Dufrechou said late Tuesday that officials were still counting but had confirmed “several dozen.”

“Have I seen worse accidents?” Yes,” he said. “But have I seen anything of this magnitude? No.”

“Everyone did it”

In a scene shockingly reminiscent of the pileup on Interstate 55 in foggy October 2023 that involved nearly 170 vehicles and claimed seven lives, Dufrechou said the first crash occurred just before 8:30 a.m. at mile marker 18 reported on the southbound route. Two minutes later, another multi-vehicle collision occurred, this one on the northbound side in approximately the same location as the southbound accident.

Then four more crashes were reported as authorities and rescue workers picked their way through the rubble to reach injured drivers and passengers. The destroyed vehicles include a Causeway police car and a Causeway Motorist Assistance Patrol truck, both victims of a rear-end collision.

Unlike the I-55 elevated highway crash in 2023, no fatalities were reported in Tuesday’s chaos on the Causeway.

“That’s the good news,” Dufrechou said. “Everyone did it. We have some angels out there.”

Paul Becnel, 67, was among the many left with a battered vehicle. He was on his way to the North Shore from his home in Old Jefferson when he suddenly became trapped between two cars.

“I got crushed,” Becnel said before going to the hospital for a neck and thumb injury. “That’s about all I remember at the moment.”

Becnel had to climb out of a window.

“There was no escape from either door,” he said.

The crash occurred as thick fog developed over parts of the 24-mile bridge.

No convoys

“It was really foggy,” said Kristin Duncan, who commuted from Mandeville to her job on the South Coast and sat on the bridge at mile marker 19 for hours. “When cars drove past me, I watched them until they disappeared into the fog.

“There should have been a convoy. Luckily I wasn’t one of those who had an accident.”

In fact, weather forecasters had noted that conditions were ripe for fog to form. During foggy periods, particularly on the busy morning and evening routes, Causeway Police often lead convoys over the bridges and ensure vehicles travel more slowly.

But there were no convoys on Tuesday.

Dufrechou said a “fog recording” began on the bridge at 8 a.m. There, police officers and others on the bridge begin reporting foggy conditions. He said the worst of the fog had not yet arrived at this point.

“It seemed like a wall of fog suddenly blew in,” Dufrechou said, adding that the worst visibility was near the drawbridge, which is about eight miles from the north side of the lake.

Dufrechou said a debriefing would take place in the coming days and weather conditions would be part of it. He is aware that there will be a lot of doubts among drivers.

“Ultimately, I am responsible for everything that happened today, good or bad,” he said. “But I have confidence in my employees.”

Dufrechou said fog was certainly a factor, but inattentive driving was just as likely to blame, especially since motorists noticed accidents occurring on the other side of the bridge.

“I can’t tell if it was fog or elastic. Probably both,” Dufrechou said.

Of the six accidents, four occurred on the north side.

Scared, but calm

Jefferson Parish Fire Chief Charles Hudson said the victims he saw at the scene were surprisingly calm despite the harrowing circumstances.

“I give credit to those involved because they weren’t hysterical,” Hudson said. “They were scared because you’re trapped, you can’t go anywhere, you’re on the bridge and visibility is bad.”

Between accidents, people were stranded for hours, he said.

“But people were very cooperative,” he said. “We had to be very careful when transporting patients” to prevent anyone from falling over the guard rails into the water.

John Tomlinson, assistant emergency dispatcher for St. Tammany Fire District No. 4 based in Mandeville, said getting to the victims was a challenge.

Tomlinson said he entered the bridge at the Mandeville toll plaza but had to work his way to mile marker 11 near the south bank, using the intersections and zigzags between the southbound and northbound lanes. Tomlinson said first responders immediately set up at turning points to help.

Willie Boudoin, the fire district’s deputy chief, said the damage was eye-opening.

“I’ve never worked on a project this big,” Boudoin said.

As Tuesday afternoon turned into Tuesday evening, officials were still clearing away the final debris so the spans could reopen. Dufrechou said the latest major hitch was due to a few Amazon trucks still stuck on the north side. The bridge was finally reopened shortly before 5 p.m

“It’s taking too long before we can reopen,” he said.