Video Shows Woman Narrowly Escaping Dump Truck Falling 30 Feet Off I-10 In New Orleans
Newly released surveillance video captures the terrifying incident, which happened Thursday afternoon (October 22) near the intersection of North Claiborne and St. Bernard avenues.
The footage shows just how close the woman came to being struck by the massive truck, which crashed through a concrete barrier on the elevated interstate before falling onto the street below.
According to WWL-TV, New Orleans Police have confirmed the woman was uninjured.
Surveillance Video Shows Woman Escaping Seconds Before Impact
Surveillance footage obtained by WWL-TV and WDSU shows the woman walking toward her parked vehicle near Circle Food Market on North Claiborne Avenue.
She opens the car door and appears to reach inside when, without warning, the dump truck breaks through the interstate barrier above her.
The truck plunges onto her vehicle, crushing it as debris scatters across the roadway.
Incredibly, the woman can be seen walking away from the wreckage.
New Orleans Police later confirmed they spoke with her and that she was not injured. Officers also made sure she had transportation home after she told them what she witnessed.
It's the kind of footage that almost doesn't seem real, especially when you consider how differently the situation could have ended if she had been standing just a few feet away.
Police Say Dump Truck Driver Swerved To Avoid Another Crash
According to WDSU, New Orleans Police Captain Kendrick Allen said the dump truck driver was attempting to avoid another collision on I-10 East when he lost control and went through the concrete barrier.
The truck fell approximately 30 feet before landing on the parked vehicle below.
Police responded around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, finding the truck on its side near the intersection of North Claiborne and St. Bernard avenues.
Construction materials, metal debris, and fuel were scattered across the roadway.
WWL-TV reported Friday that the two people inside the dump truck were New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board employees.
Both were transported to University Medical Center in stable condition.
Allen previously indicated that the truck driver was unlikely to face citations in connection with the crash.
Witness Describes Watching Truck Go Over Interstate Barrier
One witness, Sonja Lady Dedais, was riding in a vehicle on the interstate when the crash unfolded directly in front of her.
"This crash was horrific," Dedais told WDSU.
She described how her friend managed to hit the brakes as they watched the truck break through the railing and fall from the overpass.
Dedais said the experience kept replaying in her mind afterward.
Police also acknowledged how fortunate the outcome was, considering the amount of traffic that normally moves through the busy intersection below the interstate.
Temporary Water Barriers Installed Along Damaged I-10 Bridge
The crash left a large opening in the concrete barrier along I-10 East, prompting an emergency response from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
DOTD engineers inspected the bridge, cleared debris, and assessed the damage before the affected roads reopened Thursday night.
The damaged section of the interstate barrier has since been replaced with temporary water-filled barricades while permanent repairs are pending.
The crash initially forced lane closures on I-10 near the Esplanade Avenue exit and shut down the intersection below for several hours.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno also released a statement thanking first responders, medical professionals, and cleanup crews while expressing gratitude that nobody lost their life.
For the woman whose vehicle was crushed, the outcome was especially remarkable.
A routine moment of opening her car door turned into a close call that was captured on surveillance video. Despite a dump truck falling from an interstate bridge and landing on her vehicle, police say she walked away without injuries.
Watch the dramatic surveillance footage shared by WDSU.
