NEW ORLEANS – Authorities were on the scene of a submerged 18-wheeler off of I-10 East at Irish Bayou Wednesday morning.

According to WWL, witnesses saw the 18-wheeler swerve off the road, drive across the median and crash into the canal before seeing it go into the water. Drivers pulled over and jumped into the water to try to rescue the driver but were unable to get into the cab of the truck.

One witness said they, along with others who dove into the water to help, tried to break the glass of the truck but were unsuccessful. However after about an hour, the driver was pulled from the truck by emergency crews. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The incident caused the interstate be closed down to one lane in each direction.