A 37-year-old Vinton man allegedly hijacked a crane sitting in a work zone on Interstate 10 and triggered multiple car crashes early Saturday morning. He left the key fob for his own truck in the crane's operator cab, leading police to him, according to a news release from Louisiana State Police Troop D.
Matthew Vincent, 37, was arrested and booked on multiple charges after State Police were called to investigate reports of vehicles hitting a construction crane on I-10 near La. 108 at about 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
The crane was positioned in the median with its cables hanging over I-10, which struck a passing vehicle. Three additional crashes followed the initial impact, causing two reported injuries, major damage to the crane, and significant property damage, as well as prolonged closure of the interstate.
During the investigation, troopers learned that there was no construction work in progress during the time of the incident and that the crane was not being operated by construction personnel.
Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations Sulphur Field Office found a key fob for a Dodge Ram pickup truck inside the then-empty crane. They later found the truck in a field south of the interstate near the crash site. Troopers identified Vincent as the truck's owner and also found him nearby.
Vincent had allegedly driven his pickup truck into a field off La. 108 near I-10 and got stuck there. Then, he abandoned his truck, crossed the interstate, unlawfully entered the crane, and manipulated the crane boom over the westbound lanes of I-10, leading to the crashes.
Vincent was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center, charged with one count each of simple burglary, aggravated obstruction of a highway, criminal mischief and pedestrian on the interstate. He was also charged with two counts of negligent injuring and five counts of hit and run driving.
Detectives from the Louisiana State Police are still investigating the incident and are looking into the possibility of an accomplice.
As of Monday morning, Louisiana State Police Troop C Trooper Henry Perez said there was no additional information.
Anyone who may have been in the area prior to this incident and observed suspicious activity is urged to contact State Police detectives. People can anonymously report information through the State Police's online reporting system by visiting lsp.org and clicking on Report Suspicious or Criminal Activity, or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.
