Louisiana Man Allegedly Hijacked a Construction Crane on a Highway, Causing Multiple Car Crashes

NEED TO KNOW

• A 37-year-old Louisiana man has been arrested after police said he hijacked a construction crane on a highway

• Matthew Vincent faces multiple charges, including five counts of hit-and-run driving, after authorities said he operated a crane and caused multiple crashes on Interstate-10 on Aug. 16

• The car crashes caused two reported injuries, "major damage" to the crane itself, "significant" property damage and a "prolonged closure of the interstate," per police

A Louisiana man was arrested after police said he hijacked a construction crane, obstructed highway traffic and caused a total of four car crashes — ultimately leading to two reported injuries.

Matthew Vincent, a 37-year-old resident of the town of Vinton, was taken into custody by Louisiana State Police (LSP) on Saturday, Aug. 16. He now faces one count of simple burglary, aggravated obstruction of a highway, criminal mischief and pedestrian on the interstate, as well as two counts of negligent injuring and five counts of hit-and-run driving, according to a news release.

The LSP initially responded to reports of "vehicles striking a construction crane in a work zone" on Interstate 10 around 5:30 a.m. local time. A preliminary investigation found that a construction crane was positioned in the median, with cables "hanging over the westbound lanes" that struck a passing vehicle, before three additional crashes took place, according to the police statement.

Despite the circumstances of the crashes, authorities determined that construction work was "not in progress" at the time and the crane was not being operated by a construction worker.

Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations eventually discovered a key fob for a Dodge Ram pickup truck inside the crane, and troopers then found the corresponding truck in a field south of the highway.

Vincent was later identified as the owner of the truck, which police allege he drove off the highway and through a field when it became stuck. He then allegedly abandoned the vehicle, crossed the highway and "unlawfully" entered the crane inside of a work zone — where he "manipulated the crane boom over the westbound lanes of I-10, obstructing traffic and causing the crashes," the LSP said.

The crashes caused two reported injuries, "major damage" to the crane itself, "significant" property damage and a "prolonged closure of the interstate," per authorities.

Vincent is being held at Calcasieu Correctional Center. It is not immediately clear if he has obtained legal representation to comment on his behalf.

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

According to Calcasieu Correctional Center records, Vincent's total bond has been set to $3,500. He was booked shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.

I-10 has since been reopened, according to NOLA.com.

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