Interstate closed
, Publisher
09-24-2008
One person died and one
person was critically injured in a crash on Interstate 20 that shut down all
lanes of the interstate this morning.Both were riding in a FedEx Ground 18-wheeler carrying parcels headed eastbound on I-20 around 8:22 a.m., according to Ruston Police Department Public Information Officer Lt. Curtis Hawkins.
The identities of the victims have not been released. Ruston Fire Department Public Education Officer Eric Brazzel said one patient badly burned in the fiery wreck was airlifted by Pafford Ambulance to a hospital in Shreveport.
The wreck happened in Ruston city limits near Rabb’s Steakhouse when the FedEx truck out of North Carolina struck a Tara Trucking 18-wheeler out of Jonesboro in the right-hand eastbound lane.
“The Tara Trucking truck was moving very slowly, and the FedEx truck struck the rear of the Tara Trucking truck,” Hawkins said.
The reason the Tara Trucking 18-wheeler was moving so slowly was unclear at press time.
When the FedEx truck hit the other 18-wheeler, it burst into flames, Hawkins said.
“It looked like a bomb went off,” he said.
The Tara Trucking truck was knocked off the interstate into the South Service Road fence.
The FedEx truck was completely engulfed in flames with some explosions, Brazzel said. Hawkins said all lanes of the interstate were shut down from the Grambling exit to Cooktown Road this morning because of the accident.
“Because there were materials burning and fumes, we’d rather err on the side of caution,” he said.
At 10 a.m., one westbound lane had re-opened, but Hawkins said both eastbound lanes would remain shut down indefinitely.
Along with Ruston Police, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and State Police responded to the wreck, Hawkins said. Louisiana Tech Police helped direct diverted traffic. Ruston Fire, Lincoln Parish Fire and the HazMat unit also responded.
“We appreciate the response of all agencies involved and the people who came off duty to help respond to this tragic event,” Hawkins said.
Other Top Stories
