I-10 down to one lane as MDOT inspects bridge following fiery crash near Louisiana state line

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - Traffic is moving on Interstate 10 near the Louisiana state line but it’s going very slowly.

Only one lane is open as crews from Mississippi Department of Transportation inspect the bridge and ensure it didn’t suffer any structural damage following a crash Monday night that left the interstate shut down for more than nine hours.

Both east- and westbound lanes were closed over the Pearl River Bridge in Hancock County after the accident, which happened at 10:40 pm Monday night.

According to Mississippi Highway Patrol, a semi-truck car hauler was carrying seven new BMWs when it collided with the concrete bridge railing and caught fire. The driver was able to escape unharmed but all seven cars and the truck were burned.

Firefighters from Hancock County worked to put out the flames.

Dozens of cars were stuck on the roadway with no way to turn around or pass through, spending the night inside their vehicles in the freezing temperatures.

One Waveland resident tells WLOX he was on his way from his job in New Orleans around midnight. He and several other vehicles were stuck on the interstate for hours with on way to turn around or get through.

MDOT later said Monday that westbound traffic will be down to one lane for potentially two weeks due to damage from the wreck.

To see the latest traffic conditions here and throughout Mississippi, visit MDOT’s Traffic Map by clicking here.

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