801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318/ 673-6655 ● FAX: 318/ 673-6656 ● www.shreveportfire.org

Kelvin J. Cochran, Fire Chief

November 19, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fiery Accidents on I-49 Injures Lafayette Man

A fiery accident early this morning along I-49 sent one person to the hospital in serious condition . . .

Firefighters and Shreveport Police responded to the northbound lane of the Interstate just before 4:00 a.m., after receiving reports of an accident and fire. When crews arrived on the scene, just south of the Flournoy Lucas overpass, they found Byron Simon, 33, of Lafayette lying in the median and his car ablaze underneath an 18-wheeler with a load of lumber. Eyewitnesses said Simon’s vehicle struck the diesel rig from behind at a high rate of speed as it was traveled along the interstate. The driver said that he thought he suffered a flat tire at the time of the accident but then saw a vehicle in his rear-view mirror on fire at the back of his truck.

As Simon’s vehicle burned he was unable to escape until several truck drivers pulled him out. Fire Department paramedics quickly attended to Simon and his numerous injuries, most involving his lower extremities and pelvis. He was airlifted to LSUHSC by Life Air Rescue where at this writing he is in fair condition in the hospitals Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). No other injuries were reported. More information about the accident will be forthcoming. ####