Wreck on I-10 Halts Traffic for Two Hours

By Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Dec. 18–BILOXI — A motorist was in serious condition Monday after a crash that backed up traffic on Interstate 10 for more than two hours.

Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to remove the woman from her sport utility vehicle near the Cedar Lake exit while police used the Woolmarket exit as a detour. Traffic was backed up several miles for emergency response and the aftermath of clearing the debris.

Police Lt. David Prahl said the woman was not wearing a seat belt when her eastbound SUV crossed the median, striking the axle of a westbound 18-wheeler. The driver of the 18-wheeler and a co-driver, asleep in the big rig’s berth, were not injured.

The accident occurred around 10:30 a.m.

The woman, age and hometown unavailable, was taken to Biloxi Regional Medical Center and was transferred to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile.

Prahl said the crash remains under investigation.

Motorists who were near the collision shortly after it happened were unable to detour. Some of them, such as Alex Engel of Michigan, got out of their cars to talk while they waited for the interstate to reopen.

“It’s surprising the woman’s alive,” said Engle. “Her red vehicle looked like an accordion.”

Engel said numerous drivers tried to cross the median to turn around. Police said that’s not recommended, but it’s not uncommon for motorists to try.

—–

To see more of The Sun Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sunherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2007, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.