| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 3673 | 2012-05-08 | Troop D | Serious injury crash involving hazardous material on I-10 near Jennings |
UPDATE May 8, 2012 / 6:45 p.m. Interstate 10 eastbound, which has been closed for recovery of the tractor-trailer, has been reopened. There were no evacuations, no offsite impact, and no threat to public safety. Eastbound motorists can expect delays in the area as traffic flow returns to normal. Interstate 10 westbound was reopened at 5:40 p.m. after product transfer was completed. News Release – Troop D May 8, 2012 Serious injury crash involving hazardous material on I-10 near Jennings On May 8, 2012, at 5:02 a.m., troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 10 just east of Jennings in Jefferson Davis Parish that sent a Texas man to the hospital with serious injuries and resulted in the eventual closure of Interstate 10. The preliminary investigation revealed that an 18-wheeler tanker driven by 28-year-old Hector Martinez of Channelview, TX was traveling east on I-10 just east of Jennings when the 18-wheeler he was driving entered the median and overturned. Martinez, who was not wearing a seatbelt, had to be extricated from the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to a local hospital. The truck Martinez was driving was carrying Benzene, a flammable and toxic liquid. As a result, Interstate 10 was closed near mile post 65 at 11:00 a.m. to facilitate the safe off-loading of the truck. Louisiana State Police Emergency Services troopers are on-hand to help assure the safe transfer of the Benzene and to expedite the process in an effort to minimize inconvenience to the motoring public. It is presently unknown what time I-10 will be reopened. No evacuations have been required and none are anticipated at this time. Eastbound I-10 traffic is being diverted onto US 165 north (east of Iowa) to US 190 east (Kinder) to LA 13 south (Eunice) to I-10 east (Crowley). Westbound I-10 traffic is being diverted onto LA 13 north (Crowley) to US 190 west (Eunice) to US 165 south (Kinder) to I-10 west (east of Iowa). Although the crash remains under investigation, troopers suspect Martinez may have fallen asleep. A routine toxicology sample was obtained from Martinez and will be submitted for analysis. Martinez was charged with careless operation and failure to wear a seatbelt. Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists that sleep deprivation can impair one’s ability to drive. Some studies have shown that cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation can affect driving as much as alcohol impairment. Drivers are encouraged to be well rested before getting behind the wheel and to take breaks whenever necessary. Contact Information: Sgt. James Anderson Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Office: (337) 491-2932 james.anderson@dps.la.gov | |||
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