I-55 pile-ups result in fatality
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MANCHAC — A series of crashes Sunday on Interstate 55 starting with a rolled-over sport utility vehicle led to the death of one person and at least seven people being injured, Louisiana State Police said Monday.
Eight vehicles were involved, including a 2001 Ford Explorer that rolled over on the elevated section of I-55 northbound in Manchac, troopers said.
Trooper Louis Calato said a lack of lighting contributed to three crashes that followed the first within minutes. Each vehicle the ran into the initial crash scene, he said.
Killed in the wreck was Martin Davison, 43, of Kenner. The injured included Davison’s wife, Irina, 43, of Kenner; Alex George Jr., 45, of Buras; Tiffany Monteleone, 19, of Covington; and Gwendolyn Rolen, 39, of Amite. Many of the injured were taken to hospitals in Hammond and LaPlace in stable condition.
Shortly before 9:35 p.m. Sunday, Tyrone Jenkins, 33, of Marrero, overturned the Explorer in the left-hand lane of I-55 with the SUV coming to a rest on its side and the roof facing oncoming traffic.
Two Springfield volunteer firefighters pulled over to help, parking their vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder along the right-hand lane, troopers said.
Driving in the right-hand lane, Rolen saw the emergency lights and moved into the left-hand lane, hitting the Explorer and rotating it so it struck the firefighters, troopers said. Two more vehicles then crashed into the scene, State Police Sgt. Gary Scioneaux said.
Later, Martin Davison was driving a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder when he was rear-ended about nine-tenths of a mile south of the original crash scene 90 minutes after it occurred, troopers said.
George was driving a 2007 Toyota that hit the Pathfinder and then sparked crashes with two more vehicles ahead in traffic, troopers said. He is suspected of speeding and being impaired; the results of a toxicology test are pending.
The Nissan and the Toyota caught fire, troopers said, but bystanders rescued the occupants.
Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the rollover. Once released from the hospital, Jenkins will be booked on counts of driving while intoxicated, two counts of negligent injuring and counts of careless operation and having an expired license plate, troopers said.
Eight vehicles were involved, including a 2001 Ford Explorer that rolled over on the elevated section of I-55 northbound in Manchac, troopers said.
Trooper Louis Calato said a lack of lighting contributed to three crashes that followed the first within minutes. Each vehicle the ran into the initial crash scene, he said.
Killed in the wreck was Martin Davison, 43, of Kenner. The injured included Davison’s wife, Irina, 43, of Kenner; Alex George Jr., 45, of Buras; Tiffany Monteleone, 19, of Covington; and Gwendolyn Rolen, 39, of Amite. Many of the injured were taken to hospitals in Hammond and LaPlace in stable condition.
Shortly before 9:35 p.m. Sunday, Tyrone Jenkins, 33, of Marrero, overturned the Explorer in the left-hand lane of I-55 with the SUV coming to a rest on its side and the roof facing oncoming traffic.
Two Springfield volunteer firefighters pulled over to help, parking their vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder along the right-hand lane, troopers said.
Driving in the right-hand lane, Rolen saw the emergency lights and moved into the left-hand lane, hitting the Explorer and rotating it so it struck the firefighters, troopers said. Two more vehicles then crashed into the scene, State Police Sgt. Gary Scioneaux said.
Later, Martin Davison was driving a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder when he was rear-ended about nine-tenths of a mile south of the original crash scene 90 minutes after it occurred, troopers said.
George was driving a 2007 Toyota that hit the Pathfinder and then sparked crashes with two more vehicles ahead in traffic, troopers said. He is suspected of speeding and being impaired; the results of a toxicology test are pending.
The Nissan and the Toyota caught fire, troopers said, but bystanders rescued the occupants.
Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the rollover. Once released from the hospital, Jenkins will be booked on counts of driving while intoxicated, two counts of negligent injuring and counts of careless operation and having an expired license plate, troopers said.
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