The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the U.S. It’s also one of the most dangerous. It is a narrow bridge with no shoulder that lasts over 18 miles. Accidents are common on the bridge because of the lack of clearance. Also, since there are only a few places where you can exit from the bridge, any accident on it can back up traffic for hours. Here is a recent accident reported by The Advocate that occurred on the bridge.
An 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle crashed on I-10 East near the Whiskey Bay exit. The impact sent the truck off the bridge rail and into the basin. The driver of the truck was rescued by a medical helicopter in critical condition.
The driver of the passenger vehicle was lucky. They only sustained moderate injuries. Quite often, drivers of cars that get into truck accidents end up with far worse injuries. For instance, they can get jammed underneath the trailer and crushed to death.
It is unknown why the two vehicles crashed into one another at the exit. Police are still investigating. We hope that all people involved recover from their injuries and that the responsible party can cover the medical costs through their insurance or worker’s compensation.
