A family was driving in Mer Rouge, LA, on the 5th of October, when they witnessed a horrific scene.
They were driving behind an 18 wheeler hauling a crane and began filming after the big rig got stuck on the train tracks near the major intersection where Louisiana 2 and Highway 165 meet. The approaching train rammed into the rig, sending pieces of metal and debris flying.
Thankfully, driver Daniel Shackleford was able to leave his truck just seconds before the collision. Shackleford and the train conductor were both airlifted to a nearby hospital. Their wounds are not fatal and they are expected to make a full recovery.
Unfortunately, train wrecks aren’t an uncommon occurrence to Mer Rouge. One officer stated that this was maybe the 3rd or 4th crash in the past 2 years.
Over 15 of the train’s cars were derailed and they began to leak argon gas. The scene had to be evacuated within a half-mile radius as hazmat crew were called in to clean the mess. It took a couple of days but residents are now allowed to return safely to their homes.