| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 7440 | 2009-11-30 | Troop I | Two Killed in Interstate Crash |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent Troop-I Press Release November 30, 2009 Two Killed in Interstate Crash Rayne- Last night, troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I investigated a crash that claimed the lives of two people on Interstate 10 west of Rayne. Killed in the crash were fifty six year old Kenneth Hicks of Northport, AL and forty nine year old Billy Nelms of Orange, TX. Hicks was not wearing a seatbelt, and was ejected from the vehicle he was driving after he crossed the median on I-10 and began to flip. Nelms was driving east on I-10 and was killed when his vehicle was struck by an 18 wheeler and Hicks’ vehicle. Nelms was wearing his seatbelt at the time the crash occurred. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner. According to investigating troopers from Troop I on November 29, 2009, at about 7:30 pm Hicks was driving a Ford F-250 westbound on Interstate 10 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the median. Four other vehicles involved in the crash were traveling eastbound on I-10. The F-250 entered the eastbound lanes and rolled on top of a 2002 Ford Focus driven by twenty year old Daniel Root of Seabrook, TX. After separating from the Focus, the F-250 traveled over a 2006 Chrysler, driven by Susannah Montandon of Baton Rouge, LA without making contact. Thirty six year old Henry Neal of Bainbridge, GA, went into emergency braking causing his 1999 Volvo tractor trailer to jackknife. During this movement, the tractor trailer struck the back of a 2009 Ford Ranger, which was being driven by Nelms. After impact, the Ranger was forced into the path of the F-250. The Ranger and the F-250 collided, then came to rest in the ditch south of I-10. The tractor trailer came to rest in the median. The Chrysler and the Focus came to rest on the outside shoulder of I-10 eastbound. No other persons involved in the crash were injured. Troopers obtained toxicology specimens from all the drivers. Those specimens were sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for alcohol and narcotic analysis. The crash remains under investigation. Contact Information: Tpr. Stephen Hammons Louisiana State Police Troop I Public Affairs Office: 337-262-1917 www.lsp.org | |||
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