I-10 West closed near Baton Rouge after 18-wheeler flips, spills 20 tons of candles

If you're planning on driving towards Lafayette or other points west of Baton Rouge today, you may want to take U. S. 90 or U. S. 190.

According to Louisiana State Police, nearly 20 tons of candles are covering Interstate 10 West in West Baton Rouge Parish after a crash involving four 18-wheelers and a car. That's forced troopers to shut down Interstate 10 near the Lobdell exit, about three miles west of the Wilkinson Bridge over the Mississippi River in state capital.

According to state troopers, one of the big rigs flipped, scattering around 40,000 pounds of candles across I-10's westbound lanes. Cars that are already stuck in the traffic jam are being diverted at the Lobdell exit to LA 415 north to US 190 West.

Troopers did not say how long the cleanup effort would take.