Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013

MONTROSE, Ga. (AP) -- One westbound lane of Interstate 16 remains closed early Thursday, a day after more than two dozen cars and trucks collided in a fiery pileup.

The chain-reaction accidents around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday killed four people and sent nine others to a hospital.

Georgia Department of Transportation officials said the right, westbound lane is expected to be closed until noon Thursday.

Georgia State Patrol operator Terri Graffagnino tells The Telegraph that a trooper was out all night checking for lingering smoke from controlled burns in the area. She said the trooper has been patrolling overnight from mile markers 36 to 54, where fog routinely gets thick.

Dense fog was reported in the area Wednesday morning. Georgia State Patrol Capt. Kirk McGlamery said motorists also reported smoke across the highway.

(Copyright 2013, The Associated Press)