June 11, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

18 wheeler accident causes I-20 backup

An eighteen-wheeler carrying a petroleum tanker crashed into an Interstate 20 retaining wall this morning just before 10:00 a.m., after the drive said a car pulled in front of him. Brian Zimmerman, 40, reportedly was traveling in the westbound lane of I-20 when he swerved to miss an unidentified vehicle. The truck, owned by Temple Oil of Shreveport, then smashed into a concrete retaining wall at the base of the south Interstate 49 exit ramp. Zimmerman was treated by department paramedics for moderate injuries and transported to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. No other vehicles or persons were involved in the actual accident.

At the scene, two-hundred feet of rubber laced skid marks could be seen lining the entrance of the exit ramp, finally ending at the base of the retaining wall where chunks of displaced concrete could be seen lying on the roadway. Thirty feet away, the 18 wheeler’s tractor was turned backwards and resting alongside its trailer, the front end of the large truck torn away and crumpled. The low sulfur diesel carrying tank car was not ruptured and believed to be empty at the time of the accident. Although at the scene there were some conflicting reports that the trailer may still have some of the product on board. Fire officials stated there was no danger posed by the tanker but were calling in Louisiana State Police for assistance.

The department’s hazardous material team did have to contain approximately 30 to 40 gallons of diesel fuel that had leaked from the truck’s saddle bag fuel tanks. A private cleaning company was being contacted by Temple Oil to clean up the spill. The ramp was still closed at this writing and I-20 west was down to two lanes. Crews estimate the cleanup to take several hours. ###