A helicopter crashed on I-10 at the Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge Tuesday afternoon, killing the pilot on board.
The interstate remains closed Tuesday night, hours after the Bell 407 helicopter crashed into the bridge. According to our media partners at The Advocate, the chopper was heading from Gonzales to New Orleans when it clipped an Entergy transmission line around 12:30 p.m. and fell onto the eastbound side of the highway.
WBRZ reports that the pilot was from the Baton Rouge area and flew helicopters for an industrial construction company.
I-10 eastbound at US Hwy 51 and I-55 southbound at I-10 remain closed as of 8:00 Tuesday night and are being diverted to US 51.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating the crash. According to the FAA, the pilot was the only person on board the helicopter.
Authorities say no one on the ground was injured. Officials at Acadian Ambulance said Tuesday evening they were "saddened to hear about the fatal helicopter crash," adding that "we are able to report that all Acadian Ambulance/Air Med helicopters and their crews are safe at this time."
The sheriff in St. John the Baptist Parish says the helicopter may have crashed because of fog.
NTSB is investigating the Dec. 14, 2021, crash of a Bell 407 helicopter near LaPlace, Louisiana.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) December 14, 2021
The crash knocked power out for about 20,000 Entergy customers in Kenner and Metarie for around two hours. DOTD says roads will be closed for several hours through Tuesday night while Entergy crews reinstall overhead transmission lines. More on the closures here.
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