Overview

• On June 25, dashcam footage showed an 18-wheeler colliding with the bucket arm of a Louisiana DOTD utility truck at the I-12 exit in Denham Springs, flipping the worker upside down.
• The DOTD employee suffered only minor injuries, was secured by a mandated safety harness and did not require hospital treatment.
• Denham Springs Police Department and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development opened a joint investigation to assess negligence or regulatory breaches.
• The semi-truck driver told investigators he was unaware of the bucket’s clearance over the roadway when making the left turn.
• The incident has reignited debate over lane closures, signage requirements and spotter use in roadside maintenance zones.