A woman who was taking her driving test on the same road that was hit by a deadly 168-car pileup in Louisiana passed passed with a perfect score despite the carnage unfolding around her.
The student driver and instructor Gisela Chevalier were amongst the survivors in the chaotic car crash caused by marsh fires and dense fog on Monday.
Chevalier told Fox 8 that she and her student got into her J&G International Driving School car that morning as she set out to test the student on the I-10 to I-55 route she’s used for years.
But as the two were on the fog-filled road, the student sat behind the wheel with a flatbed trailer in front and a double 18-wheeler behind them. She was forced to slam on the brake when they did, narrowly avoiding an accident.
‘I’m very proud of her, because she did what we taught her to do. We are here because she handled it really good. Really brave,’ the instructor said.
Gisela Chevalier (pictured) was on the I-55 during the pileup in Louisiana testing a student driver on Monday. Both of them survived the chaotic scene and the student passed her test
Gisela Chevalier was on the bridge with with a student driver when taking her road test at the time of the pileup in Louisiana caused by the ‘super fog’ from marsh fires and dense fog
Eight people have been reported dead and 63 were injured from the catastrophic pileup
Chevalier and the student spent hours trapped on the severely congested bridge and even saw a fire truck reverse in an attempt to get to victims.
While they were sitting there, she realized that she saw many cars around her that were beyond repair.
They watched as medical personal raced to save people that were also trapped on the impassable roadway.
When the scene had finally cleared enough for the pair to exit the massive crash, Chevalier had no doubt in her mind that her student passed.
‘She was at the wheel when all that happened. When we were ready to leave and turn around, I took the wheel, because I thought it was too much for her, honestly.’
‘She’s a master. She made 100, no doubt about it. She earned it,’ Chevalier said.
The instructor also revealed that she had just passed that driver’s husband a week earlier.
‘I’m not afraid of fog. So, I told my student, “Don’t be afraid of fog”. We have to drive on foggy days, on rainy days, so that’s OK,’ Chevalier said.
Chevalier was extremely proud of her student for getting through a scary road test. She was not happy with the other drivers who she said were going ‘a little bit too fast’ for her liking
Responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on I-55 in Manchac. A lot of first responders had to work on foot to help people due to the wreckage
While they both survived, eight people tragically lost their lives in the mammoth collision.
Another 63 people were injured as vehicles were crushed and rammed in the smash, with some cars engulfed in flames.
Many people initially stood on the side of the road or on the roof of their vehicle looking on in disbelief at the disaster, while others cried out for help.
Piles of mangled cars heaped on top of one another as firefighters trudged through the debris.
Hours after the crashes, the smell of burnt wreckage still wafted in the area.
Drone footage and videos showed apocalyptic scenes from the aftermath of the wrecks showed a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars near New Orleans.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre told CNN that all first responders involved had to work on foot because the pileup left the area ‘completely gridlocked’.
Chevalier revealed that she saw many cars around her that were beyond repair and unrecognizable.
Her and the student spent hours trapped on the severely congested bridge and even saw a fire truck reverse in an attempt to get to victims.
They watched first hand as medical personal raced to save people that were also trapped on the impassable roadway.
When the scene had finally cleared enough for the pair to exit the massive crash, Chevalier had no doubt in her mind that her student passed.
Louisiana State Police shared aerial photos on their Facebook page showing the crashed cars and extensive debris on both northbound and southbound lanes of the elevated interstate, which passes over swamp and open waters between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas
Louisiana State Police posted an update to Facebook and confirmed one more death that just occurred at a local hospital. They also said that the pileup is still being investigated
Vehicles were crushed, rammed under one another and some engulfed by flames
‘She was at the wheel when all that happened. When we were ready to leave and turn around, I took the wheel, because I thought it was too much for her, honestly.’
‘She’s a master. She made 100, no doubt about it. She earned it,’ Chevalier said.
The instructor also revealed that she had just passed that driver’s husband a week earlier.
Though Chevalier was impressed with her student, she couldn’t help but be critical of other drivers on the bridge at the time of the incident.
‘A lot of cars were passing — a little bit of speeding — due to the smoke and fog. In my opinion, they were a little bit too fast.’
‘A lot of them with the lights off. And that’s why that state trooper was almost going from car to car, in his car, “Hey turn the lights on.’” I had the automatic, but evidently it wasn’t enough,’ she said.
The Louisiana State Police are still investigating the crash, but troopers were notified of an additional victim, bringing the death toll up to eight.
‘Troopers, first responders, DOTD, and various tow companies have worked tirelessly since yesterday morning to continue the crash investigation and clear the roadway.’ the Louisiana State Police said in an update on Facebook.
63 individuals have been reported to have injuries from the crash.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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