Prairieville, LA — April 4, 2025, James Burns was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 1:45 a.m. on Interstate 10.

Authorities said a 2022 GMC Sierra was driving the wrong way on eastbound I-10 when it crashed head-on with a 2013 Freightliner semi-truck near the Ascension Parish line. The truck caught on fire after the collision.

GMC driver James Burns, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries.

Authorities have not released any information about the Ascension Parish crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a wrong-way collision happens on a major highway like I-10, especially in the middle of the night, it’s not just a tragic error: it’s a catastrophic breakdown in roadway safety. According to reports, a GMC pickup was traveling the wrong way in the eastbound lanes when it collided head-on with a semi-truck, causing the truck to catch fire. The pickup driver lost his life, and the truck driver was hospitalized with injuries.

From a legal standpoint, wrong-way crashes are typically treated as the fault of the driver traveling against traffic. But that’s only part of the story. The deeper legal question is: What allowed that vehicle to enter the highway going the wrong direction in the first place?

Was the on-ramp poorly marked? Was the signage confusing or inadequate? These aren’t just theoretical questions. They’re part of any serious effort to understand the full chain of decisions and conditions that led to a fatal collision.

For the truck driver, being struck head-on by a wrong-way vehicle is one of the most dangerous and least avoidable situations on the road. Trucks take time to stop and have limited room to maneuver, particularly in the narrow lanes and high speeds of an interstate highway. That makes driver training and situational awareness all the more critical. Still, even the best-trained drivers can do very little when faced with a wrong-way vehicle coming at them in the dark.

The fire adds another layer to the investigation. Authorities should look into the placement and condition of the truck’s fuel tanks, as well as whether the impact caused a rupture that could have been prevented with better design or maintenance. While it’s not uncommon for high-speed crashes to lead to fires, investigators should still determine whether any mechanical defect contributed to the severity of the outcome.

In the end, wrong-way crashes like this one are a reminder that some of the most deadly highway incidents aren’t the result of high-speed racing or reckless passing. They’re the result of a single vehicle entering the highway incorrectly. Whether that was due to driver error, impaired judgment or a flaw in the road system, the answers will matter for the victim's family.