All east and westbound lanes were closed for several hours yesterday after an 18 wheeler box truck lost control, jackknifed and jumped the concrete barrier on I-10 West into oncoming traffic Monday morning.
67-year-old Emma Brooks of Bastrop, LA crashed head-on into the cab of the jackknifed 18 wheeler. Brooks died at the scene.
"My heart goes out to the victim's family," says Provost Umphrey attorney Matthew Matheny. "This is an incredibly sad and tragic accident that should have never happened."
After Brooks struck the 18 wheeler, her Cadillac Escalade crashed into an SUV. Adults inside the SUV were injured and taken to the hospital.
Matheny recalls another accident that happened about a mile up the road almost one year earlier.
"The accidents are eerily similar," says Matheny.
On May 16, 2021, Matheny's client, Robert Carlton of Evadale, was traveling west on I-10 when an 18 wheeler lost control and jumped the concrete barrier from the eastbound lane. Carlton was a passenger in the 2018 black Ford F150 Pickup that crashed into the 18 wheeler.
"Mr. Carlton suffered severe injuries due to the Defendant's negligence", says Matheny. "With mounting medical bills and loss of wages due to being unable to work, the accident was very devastating for him."
Justice of the Peace Ben Collins says the driver of the 18 wheeler in yesterday's incident was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
"If the driver of the 18 wheeler is found to be at fault, I hope justice is served," says Matheny. "The victim deserves nothing less."