| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8262 | 2017-11-15 | Troop L | Troop L Troopers Investigate Two Separate Early Morning Fatal Crashes |
| TROOP L NEWS RELEASE November 15, 2017 Troop L Troopers Investigate Two Separate Early Morning Fatal Crashes Troopers on the Northshore investigated two fatal crashes on separate interstate systems in the Troop L area early Wednesday morning. The first crash occurred at 1:00 AM on Wednesday November 15, 2017 on Interstate 59 near the Interstate 10/12/59 interchange in Slidell. The crash claimed the life of 49-year-old Leonard C. Lebell of Slidell. The second crash occurred at 2:40 AM on Interstate 55 south of LA 440 in Tangipahoa. The crash claimed the life of 29-year-old Grace Dianne Magee of Greenwell Springs. In the first crash, preliminary on-scene evidence led investigating Troopers to determined that the crash occurred as Lebell was driving a 2006 Chrysler 300 southbound on Interstate 59 in the right lane. Lebell crashed into the rear of a Tractor-Trailer as he attempted to overtake it. The tractor-trailer was driven by 58-year-old Gheorghe Ciota of Shelby Township, Michigan. Following the crash, Lebell’s vehicle caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames. Lebell sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on-scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. Due to the extent of damage to Lebell’s vehicle, Troopers were unable to determine seatbelt usage. As part of the ongoing investigation, blood samples were collected and will be sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. Ciota was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was not impaired. He provided Troopers with a voluntary breath sample, which showed no amount of alcohol present. In the second fatal crash, initial findings led Troopers to determine that 51 year-old Joni Dianne Magee was driving a 2000 Toyota Pick-Up northbound on Interstate 55 in the right lane. Her vehicle was hit from behind by a 2016 Freightliner Tractor-Trailer driven by 29-year-old Dustin M. Curran of Halls, Tennessee. The force of the impact pushed Magee’s vehicle off the right side of the roadway, where it overturned and impacted several trees. None of the occupants in the Toyota truck were properly restrained at the time of the crash. Grace Dianne Magee was seated in the front passenger seat of the Toyota truck. She was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries in the crash. She was pronounced deceased on-scene by the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office. Two other passengers in the Toyota, including a nine-month-old child, as well as the driver, Joni Magee, all sustained minor injuries in the crash. As part of the on-going investigation, blood and urine samples were collected from Joni Magee. The samples will be submitted to the LSP lab for toxicological analysis. Dustin Curran, the driver of the tractor-trailer, was properly restrained and uninjured in the crash. Curran provided Troopers with a voluntary breath sample, which showed no amounts of alcohol present. Speed is considered a contributing factor in this crash. Curran was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail for Following too Closely, Negligent Homicide & three counts of Negligent Injuring. Any additional charges will be forwarded to the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office. Troopers would like to remind motorists of the importance of safe decisions behind the wheel. Generally, fatal outcomes can be prevented with sound decisions behind the wheel. Please take a moment and speak to your loved ones about the importance of their safe decisions. Remind them to always wear a seatbelt, never drive impaired, and to avoid distractions. The conversation could be the difference in a serious crash. Contact Information: | |||
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