BATON ROUGE, La. — A deadly wrong-way crash on Interstate 10 East early Friday morning has left one man dead and another injured, according to Louisiana State Police. The collision occurred just before 1:30 a.m. near mile marker 171 and involved a pickup truck traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.
Authorities identified the deceased as 39-year-old James Burns of Amite. He was driving the pickup truck when it struck an oncoming tractor-trailer head-on, causing both vehicles to erupt in flames. Burns was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered from the charred vehicle after firefighters extinguished the blaze.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, who has not yet been named, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Police confirmed that the truck driver was wearing a seatbelt, which likely helped reduce the severity of his injuries. His condition is stable, and no other passengers were reported in either vehicle.
The cause of the wrong-way driving remains under investigation. Authorities say they do not yet know why Burns was driving in the wrong direction on the interstate. Toxicology samples were taken, as is standard in fatal crashes, to determine if impairment may have played a role.
Due to the intense fire and wreckage, the eastbound lanes of I-10 were closed for nearly five hours. Emergency responders from multiple agencies worked to secure the scene, investigate the crash, and clear the highway. The road was reopened to traffic shortly after 6:30 a.m.
The crash has renewed concerns about wrong-way driving, which, although rare, often results in deadly outcomes due to the high impact speeds. Louisiana State Police are reminding drivers to remain alert and cautious, especially during late-night and early-morning hours when visibility is low.
Officials are also stressing the life-saving importance of seatbelt use. While it’s unclear if a seatbelt would have saved Burns’ life given the severity of the crash, statistics show that seatbelts significantly increase survival chances in serious collisions.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the wrong-way driver before the crash is urged to contact Louisiana State Police. Investigators and the Department of Transportation are also reviewing the area for potential safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.