ST. MARTIN PARISH — Two middle schoolers from Breaux Bridge spent their morning off from school helping move a tree that was on the road blocking traffic.
David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy students Mikah Vincent and Layton Babineaux were having a sleepover at Vincent’s house and woke up without power.
The teens said at about 7:30 a.m. they walked to Sawmill Rd. near where Vincent’s house is located, to see if a fallen tree on a power line was the reason for the loss of power.
“We came outside to see and we saw a bunch of cars stopped right here,” Vincent said. “So, we hurried up and came look and a tree had fallen on the road.”
Even in the rain, the teens wanted to take action.
“We went back to the house grabbed some towels and we came outside on the road right here and we started moving trees making a lane so the cars could pass,” Vincent said.
Vincent said he saw people pulling into his driveway trying to turn around, which is why he wanted to help.
“Three or four at a time, they were all just pulling in the driveway making big communication to get out,” Vincent said.
“We just decided we was just gonna pull the tree as best as we can and make a lane and we ended up getting it. Some could have one lane to pass and then traffic started going a little better.”
Vincent said St. Martin Parish Government and St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office arrived an hour after the teens were pulling the tree out of the road.
“We stayed out here for about twenty minutes til we started freezing,” Vincent said. “Our bodies got numb so we ran inside put the water on, jumped in the tub.”
According to a social media post from the Sheriff’s Office, five trees came down blocking off roads.
Public Information Officer Ginny Higgins said there were more trees that fell, and were taken care of before the agency was notified.
As the weather took a turn for the better the teens got to enjoy the rest of the day outside biking.
“I’m enjoying it cause we don’t have any work to do no school,” Vincent said.
St. Martin Parish crews came to remove the tree Wednesday morning, finishing about 10:15 a.m.
