By ROBIN SHANNON

LAPLACE — The early morning accident on Interstate 10 that has snarled traffic throughout St. John and St. Charles Parishes has been cleared from the roadway, but lanes will remain closed until after lunch.

Trooper Melissa Matey, a spokesperson for Louisiana State Police Troop B, said troopers are continuing to investigate the accident and still have one lane of the roadway blocked. She said traffic is moving freely, but delays stretch back more than a mile on I-10 throguh LaPlace.

Matey said the accident occured just before 5:30 near mile marker 211. A disabled 18-wheeler parked on the shoulder of the interstate was hit by another 18-wheeler traveling in the left lane. She said the parked truck had a reflective triangle behind it as a warning, but for some unknown reason, the second 18-wheeler left the roadway and hit the first truck.

Matey said four people were hospitalized with injuries as a result of the crash. She said the wreck also spilled diesil fuel across two lanes of intestate.

Motorists were detoured off the interstate onto Airline Highway at several places due to the wreck. Traffic on Airline Highway and other surface streets became backed up for miles as a result of the closure.