Friday, June 24, 2011

Two dead in early morning 18-wheeler crash on I-12 in St. Tammany

NEW ORLEANS, LA - Two women died in a crash on Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish Friday morning after their SUV was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler, authorities said.

Anthony Hernandez, 34, was driving the truck westbound about three miles from the Louisiana 59 exit when he moved into the left-hand lane to pass another vehicle about 1:10 a.m., Trooper Nick Manale said. When Hernandez, of New Braunfels, Texas, tried to re-enter the right-hand lane he apparently did not notice a Ford Explorer traveling directly in his path, Manale said.

Hernandez slammed into the back of the SUV, which was driven by Desiree Hudson, 35, of Robert, Manale said. The crash caused the car to spin off the highway before striking several trees on the side of the road, he said.

Hudson and her passenger, 54-year-old Colleen Randall of Covington, were both pronounced dead on the scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office. Both women were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, Manale said.

Hernandez, who was also wearing his seatbelt, was not seriously injured in the crash, Manale said. He submitted to a chemical test that showed no sign of alcohol in his system, he said.

Hernandez was booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail in Covington with two counts of negligent homicide and one count of careless driving.


source: www.nola.com (Adelson, 6/24)

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