| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8689 | 2010-07-09 | Troop L | Mississippi Residents killed in I-59 Crash |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release July 9th, 2010 Mississippi Residents killed in I-59 Crash St. Tammany Parish – This morning at 09:00 am, Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a three vehicle fatality crash on Interstate 59 south of the Mississippi state line in St. Tammany Parish. The crash occurred as Juan Torres, (H/M age 37) of Montgomery, TX, was traveling north on Interstate 59 in a 2003 Freightliner 18 wheeler. A 2003 Dodge pickup truck, driven by Daniel Dickson (W/M age 57) of Carriere, MS, was traveling south on I-59. Traveling behind the Dodge pickup was a 2005 Mercedes SUV, driven by Jessica Garcia (W/F age 39) of Gretna, LA. Preliminary investigation revealed that the front left tire of the 18 wheeler blew out prior to the crash, causing Torres, for unknown reasons, to lose control of the vehicle and cross the center median of Interstate 59. Upon crossing the median, the 18 wheeler entered the southbound lanes and impacted the Dodge pickup truck on its left driver’s side in a near head-on collision. After impact, the 18 wheeler and Dodge pickup slid off road to the right coming to rest in the tree line on the west side of Interstate 59. The Mercedes SUV was impacted by debris from the collision causing damage to its front windshield. Dickson and three additional occupants of the Dodge pickup truck were pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. The occupants include: Eva Farrugia (W/F age 76), Thomas Farrugia III (W/M age 35), and a fourth unidentified occupant all from Carriere, MS. Three of the four occupants were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle upon impact. Alcohol use is not suspected by Dickson with a toxicology test pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Torres was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and suffered minor injuries. Alcohol use is not suspected with the results of toxicology test pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Torres was booked at the St. Tammany Parish Jail charged with Careless Operation and four counts of Negligent Homicide. Garcia was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured in the crash. Contact Information: TFC Nick Manale Public Affairs Unit Troop L Louisiana State Police Office: (985) 893-6250 Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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