The St. John Parish Coroner's Office has identified seven of the eight victims involved in a devastating pileup on the I-55 highway in Louisiana. The tragic incident occurred amidst a combination of 'super fog' caused by marsh fires and dense fog, resulting in one of the deadliest car crashes in the area.

Three days after the accident, the coroner's office was able to confirm the identities of seven victims, while one victim still remains unidentified. Among those identified are Nakia Gaines, 49, and his six-year-old son Mason, who were on their way to school when the incident unfolded.

Another pair of victims, Fernando Francisco DeMoraes, 50, and Jose Elias Valle, 36, were Chalmette construction workers traveling in a box truck to their next worksite. In an attempt to avoid colliding with another vehicle, they veered out of their lane and unfortunately crashed into an 18-wheeler that had come to a stop in front of them.

James Fleming, 87, from Lake St. Louis, was also identified as one of the victims. He is survived by his 54-year-old daughter.

Drone footage and videos captured the apocalyptic aftermath of the wrecks, revealing a stretch of mangled and scorched cars on Interstate 55 near New Orleans. Vehicles were crushed and flames engulfed some, creating a scene of horror. Many witnesses stood in disbelief while others desperately cried for help.

Emergency responders worked tirelessly amidst the wreckage. Piles of disformed cars were stacked on top of one another, and the smell of burnt wreckage filled the air as daylight turned to dusk.

The pileup involved a total of 158 vehicles, resulting in eight fatalities and leaving another 63 individuals injured. Some of the injured victims were transported to hospitals, while others sought medical aid independently.

Authorities have attributed the cause of the crashes to a combination of 'super fog' caused by smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense fog. The National Weather Service reported multiple wetland fires in the region, and the smoke mixed with fog created the hazardous 'superfog'. As a result, visibility was severely limited, leading to the series of collisions.

The incident had significant effects beyond the highway, as several schools in and near New Orleans had to cancel classes or delay openings due to the smoke and fog. The city also provided free masks in certain areas to help residents cope with the thick smoke from the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge.

As investigations continue into the cause of the pileup, our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to those who were injured in this tragic event.