Louisiana Man Hijacks Crane, Triggers Interstate Chaos and Multiple Crashes

A Louisiana man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he hijacked a construction crane early Saturday morning, causing a string of car crashes, injuring two people, and shutting down a major section of Interstate 10 for hours.

According to Louisiana State Police, 37-year-old Matthew Vincent of Vinton was taken into custody after a chaotic series of events unfolded around 5:30 a.m. near Louisiana Highway 108. Officers had received several reports of vehicles colliding in a work zone, but when they arrived, they were met with an unusual sight: a large construction crane sitting in the median with its heavy cables draped across the westbound lanes.

The dangling cables struck one vehicle, which triggered three additional collisions in quick succession. “The four crashes left two people injured and caused a major traffic backup,” police confirmed in their statement.

Authorities said no construction work was taking place at the time, and no crew members were operating the crane when the dangerous situation developed.

How the Incident Unfolded

Detectives later discovered that Vincent had abandoned a Ram pickup truck in a field south of the highway before fleeing across the interstate on foot. Inside the hijacked crane, investigators found a key fob linked to the abandoned truck.

Once inside the crane, Vincent allegedly swung its massive boom arm onto the roadway, obstructing traffic and causing “major damage” to the equipment, police said. The unusual hijacking left the interstate closed for an extended period while crews worked to secure the crane and clear the wreckage.

Vincent was quickly tracked down near the scene and taken into custody without further incident.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities said they are now working to determine whether Vincent acted alone.

“LSP detectives are still investigating this incident and looking into the possibility of an accomplice,” the state police said in a statement. “Anyone who may have been in the area prior to this incident and observed suspicious activity is urged to contact Louisiana State Police detectives.”

Vincent has been charged with one count of simple burglary, aggravated obstruction of a highway, criminal mischief, and pedestrian on the interstate. He also faces two counts of negligent injuring and five counts of hit-and-run driving.

He was booked into Calcasieu Correctional Center on Saturday morning, with bond set at $3,500, according to court records.

Community Reaction and Road Safety Concerns

The bizarre incident has sparked concern among drivers and local officials about the vulnerability of construction sites along major roadways. While work zones are usually secured, the fact that Vincent was able to gain access to such heavy machinery has raised questions about additional safety protocols.

“It’s fortunate that this did not result in more serious injuries or fatalities,” one local resident said after hearing of the crane hijacking. “Interstate traffic at that time of day could have made this much worse.”

Louisiana transportation officials said they are reviewing the incident alongside state police to determine whether additional safeguards are needed at highway construction sites.

Originally reported by Zoe Hussain in NY Post.