| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8561 | 2008-11-03 | Troop L | Driver Killed in Crash on Interstate 55 in Tangipahoa Parish |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: November 3, 2008 Driver Killed in Crash on Interstate 55 in Tangipahoa Parish Today, November 3, 2008 at 6:27 AM, Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a two-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a Denham Springs resident. The crash occurred Interstate 55 at milepost 24.6 in Tangipahoa Parish. A 2003 Mazda four door, driven by Joseph Delatte (W/M/Age 33) of Denham Springs, LA, was headed south on Interstate 55 upon the left lane. A 2007 Dodge pickup, driven by Frank Deffes III (W/M/Age 44) of Harahan, LA, was headed southbound upon the right lane of Interstate 55. The driver, Joseph Delatte, began to change from the left lane of travel to the right. While in the process of performing the lane change, the right rear of the Mazda struck the left front of the Dodge pickup. After impact, the Mazda four door began to rotate clockwise, traveling approximately 100 feet before exiting the roadway to the right. Once off the roadway, the Mazda impacted a pine tree, it then began sliding sideways impacting a second pine tree. The Mazda began to overturn onto its driver’s side and then struck a third pine tree. At some point during the crash, the driver was ejected from the vehicle, due to not being restrained. The driver of the Mazda four door, Joseph Delatte, was pronounced dead at the scene by Tom Terrell of the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office, due to injuries sustained in the crash. Alcohol/Drug usage by the driver is not suspected; however, blood was obtained and will be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. The driver was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the Dodge pickup, Frank Deffes III, was not injured in the crash. Frank Deffes III submitted to a chemical breath test and the results indicated a BAC of .000g%. The driver was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. For more information contact: S/T Louis Calato Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop L Office: (985) 893-6250 Louis.Calato@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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