What causes all the I-10 crashes between Lafayette and Baton Rouge?

The westbound lanes of Interstate 10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge were closed for nearly 12 hours across two days in November as authorities cleared a crash near Henderson.

The wreck happened when an 18-wheeler lost its load. For the next several hours, police closed I-10 at La. 415 in Port Allen, diverting traffic onto Hwy. 190 to Lafayette, as they removed extensive crash debris.

Does this sound familiar? Given the number of wrecks that happen on this part of the interstate, it’s hardly the first time the road has been closed and delays have stretched for miles.

From Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2016, there were 2,423 crashes on I-10 between Exit 100 in Lafayette and the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge.

Of those, there were 19 fatal crashes, resulting in 20 total deaths.

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Those statistics from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development also show 55 percent of the crashes involved a vehicle rear-ending another one.

Another 22 percent of crashes happened when a vehicle ran off the road. An additional 22 percent came because of a same-direction sideswipe. The remaining 1 percent were attributed to other causes.

“I think what you see is a very diverse corridor with significant traffic and issues that come with that,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson.

Wilson said the crashes can be attributed to several causes.

“A lot of it has to do with driver responsibility, but you do have other factors, like weather conditions,” he said. “You also see distracted driving. Of course, there are issues with people driving drowsy, particularly for 18-wheelers. And you can’t ignore the speed issue. Sometimes it’s taken for granted, and cars can go different speeds than 18-wheelers. That may not be something drivers are accustomed to elsewhere.”

The crashes range from severe wrecks to fender-benders. Wilson said the loss of life or major injuries are the biggest concerns for his department. But they also don't ignore the effect that delays can have.

For example, on Oct. 9, 2017, parts of the interstate were closed for more than six hours after an 18-wheeler crashed near Butte LaRose and caught on fire, killing the driver. In November 2016, a closure resulted in 10-hour delays after a car hit a truck carrying a load of Pepto Bismol.

"While life is first, we also acknowledge that time is money," Wilson said. "We look at accidents not just in terms of the physical cost, but time lost and wasted when these delays happen."

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According to the DOTD, there were 821 crashes on I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge in 2014.

That number increased slightly to 831 crashes in 2015, then dropped last year to 771 total wrecks.

Even with a slight decline, Wilson said, the figures are “alarming.” But he doesn’t consider the situation to be hopeless.

Wilson said that over the past few years, the department has installed more devices such as cable barriers, which can prevent wrecks when vehicles cross a median.

“What we have built has been hit 1,000-plus times, and we consider that a life saved every time, because when you have a cross-median collision, oftentimes you have a death,” he said.

The department has also installed more rumble strips on the shoulders of the road, which are designed to alert drivers when they veer off the roadway. Crews have also re-striped some areas to create clearer boundaries.

All of that work pales in comparison to a new project that is just beginning. The state is embarking on work to expand I-10 to six total lanes and install new pavement on an 18-mile stretch from the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge to the I-10/I-49 interchange in Lafayette.

The project will total about $300 million, funded in large part by federal grants.

Wilson said work is expected to go on for at least four years. During that time, drivers can expect to see more police patrols, lane shifts, construction workers and construction vehicles throughout the area.

“People need to be aware, because you have a narrow footprint between Lafayette and the Basin Bridge, and it’s going to be there for a while,” Wilson said. In general, being an aware driver can be one of the most crucial factors in preventing crashes.

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Wilson suggested drivers obey the speed limit, slow down in construction zones, keep their phones away, stay in their lanes and keep a safe distance between themselves and other vehicles.

“The driver responsibility is essential in reducing crashes, because we can only do so much,” Wilson said. “We’ve added devices, lights and striping. We’ve reduced curves and sight distance issues. But the drivers carry a lot of responsibility as well.”

Other suggestions include planning trips ahead of time and trying to avoid driving during peak times if possible.

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