Fourth crash victim dies
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A Georgia woman has died from injuries sustained in a fiery crash on Interstate 10 near Siegen Lane early Friday.
The death toll rose to four when Maria Barrios, 54, of Ashburn, Ga., died at Baton Rouge General Mid City Medical Center Burn Unit Friday night from her injuries, Louisiana State Police Trooper Russell G. Graham II said Saturday in a news release.
Criminal counts filed against Dwayne Leggett, 30, of 1624 Clear Lake Ave., Apt. D, will be amended to four counts of negligent homicide, one count of negligent injuring and careless operation of a vehicle, Graham said.
Leggett was driving a 2005 Ford pickup truck west on I-10 at about 2 a.m. when he crossed over the Siegen Lane overpass and struck the rear of a 1994 Ford pickup truck in which Barrios was a passenger. The truck was at a standstill because of road construction.
Upon impact, the victims’ truck burst into flames, was pushed to the right shoulder, veered to the left, hit the center retaining wall and came to a rest in the left lane.
LSU graduate student Britt Christensen, 29, who pulled over and tried to help, described the scene as “horrific” after the crash as victims were running around trying to put the fires out on their bodies.
In addition to Barrios, the other three occupants of the pickup truck who died are: Jacqueline Gomez, 35, Sonia Gomez Brionca, 27, and Gomez-Brionca’s daughter, Alondra Brionca, 2. They were all from Ashburn, Ga.
The only survivor is Rito Gomez, 22, also of Ashburn, Ga., and the driver of the truck. He remains in critical condition in a hospital, Graham said.
Leggett was treated for moderate injuries at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, released and booked into the Parish Prison.
State Police said that Leggett may have been drinking prior to the crash.
“Additional charges are pending the results of a Louisiana State Police Crime Lab chemical analysis of his blood,” Graham said.
Advocate reporter Steven Ward contributed
to this report.
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