Mississippi Highway Collapses, Killing Two People

Two people have died after a highway collapsed in Mississippi.

Part of Highway 26 was washed away Monday night near the town of Lucedale, Trooper Cal Robertson of the Mississippi Highway Patrol told CNN.

Two people died and 10 others were injured, including three in critical condition, he said.

Seven vehicles went into the hole, measuring about 50 feet in length and 20 feet deep, that was created by the washout, Robertson said.

"I've never seen anything in my 23 years in law enforcement like this," he added.

Rescue crews and emergency services are on the scene working to free those who are trapped.

John Glass, the emergency manager for George County, told WLOX he received a call about the collapse around 10 p.m. on Monday and has been working to coordinate a rescue and recovery operation.

Wade Whitney Jr., the superintendent of education for the George County School District, said all schools would be closed on Tuesday.

"There have been unexpected developing damages from Hurricane Ida that have resulted in a large portion on HWY 26 near HWY 57 in the Benndale Community washing out making the road impassable," Whitney said in a statement.

"Due to the large number of bus routes and commutes this affects, the George County School District has made the decision to close all schools on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
Students and school staff should not report to school on Tuesday, August 31, 2021."

The Mississippi Highway Patrol on Monday had urged people not to travel unless necessary after Hurricane Ida battered the region after making landfall as a Category 4 storm on Sunday.

"Law enforcement and road crews are assessing road and bridge conditions. Please avoid any unnecessary travel. Some of our roads are still impassible," the agency said in a Facebook post.

"For the next few days, Louisiana residents and response crews will be traveling the west and southbound lanes on our highway and interstate systems in Mississippi. If you must travel, give yourself plenty of time and leave early in case of delays."

The collapse came as Hurricane Ida left more than a million homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi without power after moving through the region on Sunday with winds that reached 150 mph.

The storm had been downgraded to a tropical depression by late Monday, though forecasters still warned of heavy rain and a flood threat.

President Joe Biden met virtually on Monday with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves along with local leaders of cities and parishes most impacted by Ida to receive an update on the storm's impacts.

He also discussed how the federal government can provide assistance, according to a White House readout.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the number of tropical cyclones over the Atlantic basin between 1967 and 2020.

Update 8/31/21 6:50 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.