By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 18, 1998

PARADIS – The Mozella community on U.S. Highway 90, between Boutte andParadis, was largely evacuated and snarled with a traffic closure after a Sunday morning gasoline truck accident.

The accident also prompted an emergency resolution at Monday’s meeting of the St. Charles Parish Council by Councilman Terry Authement.Trooper Kevin Cannatella of Louisiana State Police Troop B reported that the truck accident occurred at 10:30 a.m. as the driver was attempting tomake a turn onto Old Spanish Trail, which parallels U.S. Highway 90 in thatarea . The truck rolled over onto its side behind Champions Exxon ServiceCenter.

No one was injured in the accident, but as a precautionary measure much of the area was evacuated and traffic diverted onto other highways for much of the day. Only a “minute” amount of gasoline spilled, Cannatellasaid.

At 12:30 p.m., eastbound traffic was re-opened on the main highway butclosed again for a short time while the truck itself was uprighted.

Highway 90 was re-opened again and residents allowed to return to their homes at 8:30 p.m. The accident scene was finally cleared at 10 p.m.At Monday’s Parish Council meeting, Authement pushed through a resolution directed at the state highway department and state legislators asking to install culverts and make shoulder improvements in an effort to prevent similar accidents in the future.

“It could’ve been a major disaster,” Authement declared. “Are we gonnawait until someone is killed?” Parish President Chris Tregre suggested as well designating Old Spanish Trail and any connecting roads with Highway 90 as “no truck route” streets.

He added truckers commonly pull onto Old Spanish Trail and turn into the gasoline station to ease their departure onto the main highway.

Authement said he will meet Nov. 23 with Sen. Ron Landry on this matter.The resolution passed 7-1 with Councilman Ron Phillips absent and Councilman Ellis Alexander voting against the measure.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Cannatella said.

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