RINGOLD, Ga., March 14 (UPI) -- At least five people were killed and dozens were injured in a massive traffic accident that occurred in heavy fog on Interstate 75 in northwest Georgia on Thursday.
Officials estimated 50 to 75 vehicles, including at least a dozen tractor-trailer rigs, were involved in the chain-reaction pileup about 12 miles southeast of Chattanooga, Tenn.
"There are vehicles on top of vehicles. I see one vehicle between two tractor-trailers. You can't even tell what kind of vehicle it is," motorist Tommy Reed said.
Catoosa County Sheriff Phil Summers said there were five fatalities. "We had four hospitals receive injured personnel, 35 people were injured and transported in all," he said. One child suffered minor injuries.
Earlier, the Georgia Department of Transportation had said there were 10 dead.
The accident "was as a result of foggy conditions in the area," department spokeswoman Karlene Barron said.
Twenty people, including a child, were being treated at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. "Fourteen patients had major injuries, five had minor injuries," spokeswoman Sharon Cahill said.
Interstate 75 was closed in both directions, creating a 12-mile backup of northbound traffic. Motorists were blocked from entering the interstate highway and were being diverted to adjacent roads.
Cathy Gurley, a dispatcher at the Georgia State Patrol post in Dalton, said the accident occurred at 7:49 a.m. on the northbound side of the interstate.
Thomas Mctee of Rocky Face, Tenn., said he was driving a company truck when suddenly saw "just a lot of bad fog and a lot of brake lights." He said he did not have enough time to stop before hitting a vehicle in front of him.
"There was heavy fog around the area. The estimation of visibility was about 25 feet," said Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright in Atlanta.
"At this point, both sides of the interstate are shut down and traffic is backing up into Tennessee," Wright said.
Transportation department officials said they expected I-75 to remain closed for most of the day and possibly until Friday.
