Dense Fog in Missouri, March 17, 2022

Dense fog along portions of Interstate 57 between the Mississippi River and Interstate 55 resulted in several fatalities (indirect) in a massive pile-up. The pile-up occurred on both sides of the interstate near Charleston, Missouri in Mississippi County. Approximately 50 vehicles were involved, including multiple tractor trailer rigs. Several vehicles erupted into flames. The visibility was below one-quarter mile at the closest automated airport observing site at Sikeston, Missouri. First responders at the scene reported visibility was around 50 feet. The first collision occurred when a semi tractor-trailer rear-ended another semi at the 13.4 mile marker southbound near Charleston. That accident caused a pile-up that included 15 vehicles. Two people were seriously injured, and two others received minor injuries. A second collision occurred almost simultaneously on the northbound side of the interstate, caused by the collision in the southbound lanes. A total of 14 people were injured, six seriously. The interstate was closed for nearly 24 hours. Dense fog blanketed extreme southeast Missouri from New Madrid to the south side of Cape Girardeau, extending west to Poplar Bluff. The dense fog occurred in a moist, light south wind flow on the back side of a high pressure ridge that extended from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf Coast.