| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 747 | 2010-04-09 | Troop A | **UPDATE** - Fiery Interstate Crash Claims Four Lives |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP A - NEWS RELEASE April 9, 2010 UPDATE – Troopers have identified the two additional victims of the crash. Jacob A. Kiger (W/M, age 38) of Denham Springs and Russell Kiger (W/M, age 37) of Baton Rouge were in the 2005 Mercury SUV. Russell Kiger was a Baton Rouge Police Officer of two years. Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff Leduff accompanied Troopers to notify the family. Fiery Interstate Crash Claims Four Lives Grosse Tete – Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated a multiple-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near Grosse Tete this morning just before 5:00 am that claimed the lives of four people and had both westbound lanes of I-10 closed most of the day. Troopers, Iberville Parish Sheriff Deputies, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Deputies, and Port Allen Police Officers worked together throughout the day handling traffic and investigating the crash. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1999 Kenworth 18-wheeler was traveling east on I-10, just east of LA 77, when it sideswiped a disabled 1997 Freightliner 18-wheeler that was parked on the eastbound shoulder. After impact, the Kenworth veered to the left, crossed the median into the westbound lanes of travel, and struck two westbound vehicles nearly head-on. The Kenworth and both westbound vehicles, a 2000 Freightliner and a 2005 Mercury SUV, immediately caught fire after the collision. The drivers of all three vehicles were killed in the crash. Troopers were able to positively identify the driver of the 1999 Kenworth as Mark Woodard (W/M, age 34) of Denham Springs and the driver of the 2000 Freightliner as Fredy Guerra (H/M, age 52) of Edinburg, TX. Identification of the remaining victims is pending notification of next of kin. A 15-year-old female was riding in the sleeper cab of the 1999 Kenworth and sustained only minor injuries in the crash. The operator of the disabled 1997 Freightliner, Jose Ramirez (H/M, age 48) of Laredo, TX, was asleep in the sleeper cab and was not injured. Troopers cited Ramirez for Failure to Properly Display Warning Devices for a Disabled Vehicle on the Shoulder. Troopers were able to clear the inside westbound lane to traffic at 11:30 am. The roadway was fully cleared at 2:30 pm. While the roadway was blocked, the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and Port Allen Police Department diverted traffic from I-10 westbound at LA 415 to US 190. Contact Information: TFC Russell G. Graham II Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop A Office: (225) 754-8524 russell.graham@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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