Mississippi man killed after 18-wheeler runs off Whiskey Bay Bridge

IBERVILLE PARISH, La. (WAFB) - A Mississippi man was killed Monday morning after his truck ran off the roadway and underneath the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. on October 21, state troopers began investigating a single-vehicle crash on I-10 westbound at the Whiskey Bay exit in Iberville Parish. John Cloninger, 50, of Pearl, MS died in the crash.

Louisiana State Police said the crash happened as Cloninger was driving a 2001 Peterbilt tractor-trailer westbound on I-10. For reasons still under investigation, Cloninger ran off the roadway to the right and struck a concrete bridge rail.

After hitting the railing, the truck fell to the ground underneath the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.

Cloninger, who was unrestrained during the crash, was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Troopers do not yet know if Cloninger was intoxicated, but a toxicology sample was obtained from him for analysis.

This crash is still under investigation.

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