Home US Louisiana trucker is charged with causing 160-car pile-up that killed EIGHT people by speeding down highway in ‘superfog’ and slamming into cars in front of him

Louisiana trucker is charged with causing 160-car pile-up that killed EIGHT people by speeding down highway in ‘superfog’ and slamming into cars in front of him

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A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with negligent homicide for his role in the fiery highway pileup that left eight dead after a "super fog" of marsh fire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles
  • Ronald Britt, 61, was charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery freeway pileup that left eight dead last year
  • Britt was speeding on Interstate 55 west of New Orleans on Oct. 23 when he rear-ended a car that was stopped behind several other vehicles
  • Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured, including 60-year-old James Fleming. His wife, Barbara Fleming, 69, was seriously injured

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A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with causing 160 cars that killed eight people by speeding down a freeway in a ‘super fog’ and slamming into cars in front of him.

Ronald Britt, 61, was charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery freeway pileup that left eight dead last year.

Britt was speeding on Interstate 55 west of New Orleans on Oct. 23 when he slammed into a car stopped in the left lane behind several other vehicles, Louisiana State Police said in a statement Tuesday.

The ‘super fog’ of wildfire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles, authorities said.

Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured, including 60-year-old James Fleming. His wife, Barbara Fleming, 69, survived but was seriously injured in the crash.

A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with negligent homicide for his role in the fiery highway pileup that left eight dead after a "super fog" of marsh fire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles

A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with negligent homicide for his role in the fiery highway pileup that left eight dead after a ‘super haze’ of marsh fire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles

Ronald Britt, 61, was charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery freeway pileup that left eight dead last year

Ronald Britt, 61, was charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery freeway pileup that left eight dead last year

Ronald Britt, 61, was charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery freeway pileup that left eight dead last year

Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured, including 60-year-old James Fleming. His wife, Barbara Fleming, 69, survived but was seriously injured in the crash

Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured, including 60-year-old James Fleming. His wife, Barbara Fleming, 69, survived but was seriously injured in the crash

Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured, including 60-year-old James Fleming. His wife, Barbara Fleming, 69, survived but was seriously injured in the crash

The 'super fog' of bushfire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles

The 'super fog' of bushfire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles

The ‘super fog’ of bushfire smoke and dense fog trapped more than 160 vehicles

It took a month for the interstate to fully reopen after repairs to the road and bridge, both damaged by the crashes and vehicle fires

It took a month for the interstate to fully reopen after repairs to the road and bridge, both damaged by the crashes and vehicle fires

It took a month for the interstate to fully reopen after repairs to the road and bridge, both damaged by the crashes and vehicle fires

Fernando Francisco DeMoraes - 50

Fernando Francisco DeMoraes - 50

Jose Elias Valle - 38

Jose Elias Valle - 38

Eight people were killed and 63 were injured

It took a month for the interstate to fully reopen after repairs were made to the road and bridge, both damaged by the crashes and vehicle fires.

Britt, a commercial truck driver from Lafayette, was arrested on multiple charges including negligent homicide, negligent injury, reckless operation and other traffic-related offenses, state police said.

Britt voluntarily surrendered to the authorities on Monday. It was not known whether he has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

Another driver who was hit during the accident is still recovering from his injuries.

Months after the crash, Will Lee — who was trapped for hours on I-55 — is still in pain from the injuries he suffered when his head split open during the crash.

Negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a possible fine of $5,000 in Louisiana.

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