Motorists pull truck driver from fiery wreckage after he plunges off I-49 overpass

A truck driver suffered serious injuries but survived after his truck went airborne off of a Louisiana interstate and caught fire on the roadway below.

The crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, near Derry, Louisiana, according to a news release from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Police say that 28 year old Justin A. Richmond was driving a boom truck northbound on I-49 “when for reasons still under investigation [the truck] left the roadway on the right side striking a metal guard rail then concrete rail going airborne landing several feet down on the paved portion of La. Hwy 119 traveling through metal guard rails coming to a rest on its ride side catching on fire.”

Motorists Dan Cook of Alexandria, Brandon Melancon of Church Point, and Steve Pierce of Cloutierville saw the crash and stopped to pull Richmond from the burning truck.

Richmond was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Police say that he suffered serious injuries and burns to more than 50% of his body.

No other injuries were reported.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office said, “We applaud the motorists who stopped to assist and aid their fellow man this morning. Each of them stated they couldn’t watch him burn to death.”