18-wheeler knocks down Entergy electrical wire, west of Maurice

The driver, whose truck accidently knocked down an Entergy electrical line on La. 334, did everything right when it comes to electrical safety.
Around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, 911 received a phone call from the driver of an 18-wheeler belonging to Lafayette Erector Steel (LES).
The driver informed 911 his truck had just knocked down a live electrical wire at the intersection of La. 343 and La. 92, west of Maurice.
Once the driver realized what he did, he stopped his truck and called 911. The driver did not get out of truck or turn off his truck in fear he would be electrocuted.
At least three homes near the intersection were without electricity for at least an hour.
The Maurice Volunteer Fire Department responded, State Police and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office to the 911 call.
“Drivers take a safety class on what do if they knock down electrical wires,” said Maurice Fire Chief Matthew Trahan. “The driver did everything correct. I talked to him and he said he was OK with sitting there.”
Drivers are taught not to touch anything metal with an electrical line sitting on their truck. The driver could not unlatch his door and leave the truck because he would have touched metal and could have been electrocuted.
Because of the accident, at least four 18-wheelers parked on La. 343 and waited for the line to be moved.
Trahan said the 18-wheeler route is to travel down La. 343 and cross La. 92. Trucks are told not to travel through Maurice but instead get on La. 699 (in front of North Vermilion High) and then get on La. 343 and head north, bypassing Maurice.
Trahan checked the driver’s permit; he had the correct paperwork for a clearance of 14-feet 4-inches tall.
Trahan could not say how high the electrical wire was that was knocked down.
There were two LES trucks carrying offshore living quarters from GulfLand Structures, which has an office and yard in Lafayette.