Two people were killed and 10 were injured when a stretch of highway collapsed Monday in the western end of Lucedale, Mississippi, authorities said. Extreme rainfall caused the road to collapse, presumably due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida, according to the Biloxi Road Patrol.
Seven vehicles were involved in the collapse, the road patrol said. Three of the injured were in critical condition.
The patrol said the two lanes of Highway 26 collapsed and the collapse was at least 50 feet long and 20 feet deep, making the road “completely impassable.” They said the road will be closed until state engineers can determine how long the repairs will take.
Jerry Lee, 42, of Lucedale, was identified as one of the dead victims, CBS affiliate WLOX reported. The second victim has not been identified, pending notification from the family, the coroner reported.
More than a million people remain without electricity in Mississippi and Louisiana after Hurricane Ida hit the Gulf Coast over the weekend. It is attended by more than 5,100 members of the National Guard search and rescue efforts in areas affected by extreme weather.