NEAR COMBES – Police say heavy smoke from a grass fire caused an accident that tied up traffic on US 77 north of Combes over the weekend.

The crash happened Sunday around 5 p.m. near FM 508.

A press release issued out Monday by the Combes Police Department says due to low visibility from the smoke, two vehicles driving northbound crashed initially.

It states a tractor-trailer also driving northbound crashed into the vehicles causing a second crash.

Several cars behind the tractor-trailer followed causing an eight-vehicle collision, including the tractor-trailer.  

All occupants were rescued from the vehicles. Shortly after, a car caught fire. 

The scene, assessed by Combes police and Department of Public Safety troopers, was cleared until 7:30 p.m.

Six adults and two children were transported to Valley Baptist Medical Center.

One adult male remains hospitalized in unknown conditions and one child remains in critical condition.

No charges have been filed.