| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 946 | 2008-07-29 | Troop A | Four Vehicle Crash on I-12 Leaves 3 Dead |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent Troop A- News Release Four Vehicle Crash on I-12 Leaves 3 Dead July 29, 2008 BATON ROUGE- On July 29, 2008, at 9:37 a.m., Troopers with State Police Troop- A investigated a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 12 which resulted in the deaths of three individuals from the same vehicle. Vehicle #1, a 2007 Chevrolet van driven by Ruth A. Fort (W/F, 55 yrs old) of Baton Rouge, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 12 east of LA Hwy 3245 (O’Neal Lane) in the left lane when it approached the rear of vehicle #2, a 1999 Chevrolet Van being driven by Phillip Vanalstine (W/M, 36 yrs old) of Vancleave, MS. Vehicle #1 struck the rear of vehicle #2, causing vehicle #2 to rotate clockwise into the right lane where it impacted the left rear of vehicle #3, a 1999 International tractor-trailer being driven by Jeffrey Baker (W/M, 48 yrs old) of Mansfield, OH. After the impact with vehicle #3, vehicle #2 continued rotating clockwise before being struck by vehicle #4, a 2007 Mack tractor-trailer owned by Waste Management and driven by James C. Lane (W/M, 40 yrs old) of Baton Rouge. The resulting collision by vehicle #4, caused the body of vehicle #2 to separate from its frame, ejecting two of the occupants. Vehicle #4 continued forwarded and struck the rear of Vehicle #1. Neither tractor-trailer drivers were injured. Vehicle #2 (1999 Chevrolet Van), had four occupants inside. The driver, Phillip Vanalstine, was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital but died while in route. The front passenger, Shyla Vanalstine (W/F, 34 yrs old), and a rear passenger, Haylie Vanalstine (W/F, 7 yrs old) were both sustained fatal injuries during the crash. Another rear passenger, a 4-year old W/F, was removed from the vehicle in critical condition and taken to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. The driver of vehicle #1 (2007 Chevrolet van), Ruth A. Fort, was transported to Ochsner Medical Center for injuries she sustained in the crash. Upon her release, she will be charged with three counts of Negligent Homicide, one count of Negligent Injuring, and for Following Too Close and will be booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Fort was not wearing her seatbelt. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in this crash, but blood was taken from the drivers of vehicle #1 and #2 and will be sent to the State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis. The drivers of vehicles #3 and #4 were given a breath alcohol test and the results for both drivers were .000g%, It is unknown if the occupants of vehicle #2 were wearing their seatbelts with the exception of the 4-year old W/F, who was still secured in the vehicle upon the arrival of first responders. For more information contact: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Unit 225-925-6202 Markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||