***update***At 3 p.m. April 3, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana DOTD, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #5, DEQ and TAS Environmental Services are near the area of the disabled 18-wheeler in floodwaters on La. Hwy 120 west of I-49 near Cypress. Deputies say the load shifted on the truck overnight causing the truck to overturn. La. State Police Haz-Mat was contacted due to a fuel spillage. DEQ and TAS Environmental Services are on scene assessing the spillage and clean-up preparations.
NPSO deputies have taken aerial drone footage of the scene to get a wider and better view of the area. Log company officials out of Sabine Parish are also on scene with a skidder and other heavy equipment attempting to upright the truck.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon when the operator disobeyed road closure signs on La. Hwy 120 and entered floodwaters causing the truck to become disabled. Deputies used an NPSO amphibious ATV to rescue the driver and transport him to land. The driver, who was uninjured, was cited for Disobeying Road Closure Signs.