The NOPD is investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred today (Dec. 24) on Interstate 10 eastbound near Chef Highway.

At about 2:29 p.m., Seventh District officers were dispatched on a call for a vehicle accident with injury at the location. Upon arrival, they discovered two vehicles had been involved in a collision, with one of the victims, identified as a female, lying in the roadway. Traffic Fatality investigators were called to the scene.

Upon further investigation, detectives determined that the female victim was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV in the right-hand lane when the vehicle experienced a catastrophic blowout on its back tires, causing the victim to lose control. The SUV then rolled multiple times across the middle and left lanes of traffic, ejecting the victim in the process, and coming to rest in the right lane.

As the vehicle flipped, detectives believe it made contact with a black Dodge Ram pickup truck driving nearby. The truck continued eastbound for a short distance, leaving the roadway and coming to rest against a nearby fence.

The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of unidentified injuries.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing. No further information is available at this time. The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office will release names and cause of death for the victim who was killed, upon autopsy and notification of family.

Traffic Fatality Investigator Anthony Pontiff is in charge of the ongoing investigation and can be reached at 504-658-6215 with any information regarding this incident.