2 dead, 10 injured in Miss. highway collapse amid Storm Ida

Conservative News DailyAugust 31, 2021

A flooded city is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Lafitte, La. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:27 AM PT – Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Storm Ida turned deadly in Mississippi as heavy rains caused part of a highway to collapse. Officials confirmed two people died and 10 others were injured Monday night when their cars plunged into a hole, where Highway 26 washed away in George County.

Rescue workers used cranes to pull the cars out of the hole and rushed the victims to the hospital, where at least three are in critical condition. This came after officials said more than eight inches of rain fell in the area as Ida devastated the county.

“We’ve had torrential rainfall in the last 24-hours because of Hurricane Ida and this is another reason why we tell people during storms roads could wash out,” stated Mississippi State Trooper Cal Robertson. “You know, it’s a very dangerous situation.”

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: SR 26 is CLOSED at Crossroads Road in BOTH directions due to a road washout caused by flash flooding.

MDOT crews along with law enforcement are on scene. USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. MORE INFO: https://t.co/C3WBs7Ja1Y #MShwys pic.twitter.com/544wx4dDYd

— MDOT (@MississippiDOT) August 31, 2021

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is assessing the damages and will determine when the highway will reopen. According to MDOT data, approximately 3,100 to 5,700 vehicles travel along the affected highway on an average day. Meanwhile, crews are also checking other highways to access damages from Ida.