Police say a 6 vehicle accident that sent 7 to the hospital was probably the fault of a tractor trailer driver failing to maintain the vehicle. An EMS spokesperson said all the victims have suffered “significant injuries.” The driver of the 18-wheeler only suffered minor injuries, if any, according to the Baton Rouge Police spokesman.
Of the 6 vehicles involved, four were cars and two were 18-wheelers. Officials believe that one of the big rigs was traveling at a high rate of speed, when it failed to stop for slowed traffic, and plowed into the other vehicles. According to the Baton Rogue Fire Department, one of the vehicles, a small Volkswagen, was pinned under one of 18-wheelers and needed to be cut out of the car.
The crash, which occurred on I-12 near the O’Neal Lane interchange, resulted in snarled traffic back to the Mississippi River Bridge. Traffic was diverted from the interstate onto city streets, which lead to congestion throughout the city, and could have contributed to some of the 40 accidents that occurred that day.
“The motoring public must have protection from these large trucks carrying loads of 80000 pounds or more. There are no small 18 wheeler collisions. Trucker safety rules needs to be a top priority for the new administration,” said Atty. David Walker.
