Eastbound I-10 near the Mississippi state line turned into a gridlocked nightmare early Friday when a fatal crash halted traffic and upended Memorial Day travel plans. Emergency crews shut down the eastbound lanes while investigators worked the scene, and what should have been a getaway morning quickly turned into a miles-long backup stretching toward Slidell. Officials confirmed at least one person was killed in the collision.
The wreck happened around mile marker 270 on eastbound I-10, triggering a full closure of the eastbound lanes before crews managed to reopen the left lane and slowly get traffic creeping again, as reported by WWL‑TV. That report noted that backups reached into Slidell and that drivers were urged to take alternate routes. WWL‑TV also cited a Total Traffic New Orleans tweet calling it a "horrible start to the Memorial Day weekend."
Where the Wreck Happened
Mile marker 270 sits just inside the Slidell area. State rest-area data places the Slidell I-10 Rest Area and Visitor's Center at that marker, making the crash site a familiar pause point for eastbound travelers, according to 511LA. With the interstate blocked, holiday-bound traffic spilled onto nearby surface streets and ramps while emergency responders worked to clear the scene.
What Drivers Should Know
With Memorial Day travel already underway, the shutdown tacked extra time onto trips for commuters and vacationers alike. Motorists can check lane-closure and travel alerts for real-time updates through the Louisiana Department of Transportation, which posts current information online, according to the DOTD. Officials urged drivers to build in extra travel time and, when possible, steer clear of the impacted stretch while crews remained on scene.
WWL‑TV later updated its coverage to report that the left lane had reopened as of 6:05 a.m., although heavy delays lingered and investigators had not yet released details about the cause of the crash or the identities involved. We'll monitor official transportation feeds and update readers as more information becomes available.
