Louisiana Woman Struck and Killed after Two Tragic and Bizarre Crashes

Louisiana law enforcement officials say that two crashes happened in the same area in the span of just a few minutes, which ended up leading to a tragedy on an interstate roadway.

Louisiana State Police Trooper Marc Gremillion, who works for the Public Affairs Section of State Police, says the incident began to unfold on the morning of Friday, March 7, when he says the preliminary investigation details how a man was said to have attempted an illegal left turn on the interstate crossover.

How Did The First Crash Happen?

When 62-year-old Allen P. Martel of Eunice attempted to make the left turn, he slowed down on Interstate 59 near the crossover near Interstate 12, and a vehicle driven by 26-year-old Destiny Lacoste of Slidell was behind him in the same lane of traffic.

Lacoste's vehicle then hit the back of Martel's truck, which ended up leading the man's truck in the median and the woman's vehicle in the left lane of the northbound lane of Interstate 59.

What Is A Crossover?

A crossover, according to Louisiana law, RS 32:82 Section A.(1), reads as follows,

Whenever any highway has been divided into two roadways by a median, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic.

Can Any Driver Use A Crossover?

According to the same law, we, as regular drivers, are not allowed to use them. Here is how part 2 reads,

No vehicle, other than an authorized vehicle, shall be driven through or use an improved opening or crossover on any interstate highway.

What Happened With The Second Crash?

Lacoste got out of her vehicle. Unbelievably, while Lacoste was standing outside of her car, a different truck came along in the left lane of the northbound lane of Interstate 59. That truck then hit Lacoste's vehicle, which then hit the woman.

All of this happened even before emergency personnel had gotten to the scene of the first crash. Lacoste received serious injuries and was taken to a hospital, but she ultimately died from those injuries.

A child who was a passenger in Lacoste's vehicle was restrained appropriately based on Louisiana law and was only slightly injured. The people in the truck that were in the second crash were all buckled up, and they were not injured.

As is standard in a traffic situation such as this, toxicology samples were taken for analysis at a lab. Gremillion says any findings will be turned over to the 22nd Judicial District Court District Attorney's Office.

Louisiana State Police Officials Have Advice For Drivers

• Louisiana law prohibits non-emergency vehicles from using crossovers on the interstate. 
• Illegal crossovers can lead to devastating crashes, injuries, and loss of life.
• Everyone in a vehicle must be buckled up. 
• Always make sure children are in their proper car seats. 
• Louisiana drivers should not allow anything to distract them while driving.
• If you are fatigued, never get behind the wheel to drive.
• Never drive when you are impaired by any substance. 
• If you see someone driving in a hazardous manner, you can report it by dialing *LSP(*577).

The crash that happened in St. Tammany Parish remains under investigation.

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