An 18-wheeler crashed into a utility worker in a terrifying incident that left him hanging above a road in Louisiana. The truck hit the worker mid-air, sending him upside down while passing vehicles traveled beneath him.
Shocking dashcam footage captures the worker, strapped into a bucket lift, get violently hit while fixing a traffic light in Denham Springs.
The large truck took a wide turn and collided with the worker in an elevated basket, causing him to flip over in a split second. The Director of Transportation Fred Raiford expressed bewilderment at the truck’s ability to make the turn without hitting anything else.
The terrifying clip, first shared by Louisiana First News, was captured on Wednesday near Range Avenue at I-12.
It quickly went viral, sparking a heated blame game across social media.
“He nearly fell out of the bucket but thank God for that safety harness,” one viewer wrote.
Another clip posted on Facebook shows the huge rig grazing the underside of the lift as it attempts to maneuver the tight turn.
The worker could be seen visibly jolted by the impact and left dangling by his gear over the road.
The incident, captured on video by a bystander, shows the worker’s miraculous escape from serious injury. Despite the traumatic experience, the worker managed to escape with only minor injuries after being examined by emergency responders.
Surprisingly, Denham Springs Police confirmed the man suffered only minor injuries and was not taken to hospital.
“That is a mandate we have — when you’re in that bucket truck you’ll have that harness on,” Raiford added.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has now launched an investigation into the incident, alongside Denham Springs Police, to determine if any charges will be filed.
Online, furious users argued over who should be held responsible — the truck driver or the work crew.
“Well somebody just lost their trucking license,” one user fumed.
“Take the next four to six weeks off and hire a great lawyer to sue the trucking company. Set for life,” another said.
“No way? they didn’t even try to avoid the worker! I hope the man is okay,” one shocked viewer commented.
Others hit back, blaming the utility company for failing to properly secure the site.
“Not the truck driver’s fault. They should have closed the lane. I sense big trouble from OSHA and DOT coming their way…” one person wrote.
“That’s on the utility company. Lane should’ve been blocked, spotter wasn’t watching incoming traffic,” said another.
“Not the driver’s fault… The work crew had no lane restrictions in place and the basket was obviously below 13’ 9” height,” added a third.
As the investigation continues, officials say safety precautions like lane closures, cones, and signage are sometimes required — but not always — depending on the work zone setup.
“Safety is always the number one priority for us,” Raiford emphasized.
No one else was injured in the crash.
