The NOPD is investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred in the early hours today (June 11, 2022) on Interstate 10 East near Ridgeway Drive that left one person dead.

At about 2:43 a.m., NOPD Seventh District officers responded to a call of a vehicle crash with injury at the location. Upon arrival, officers discovered an unresponsive male lying on the shoulder of the roadway. The victim was declared deceased on scene.

Through investigation, it was determined that a flatbed tow truck had arrived at the scene to recover a disabled unoccupied van located on the shoulder. During the recovery, a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 when, for unknown reasons, it struck the rear of the van, causing the van to crash into the tow truck. The pickup left the road and came to rest in the grass alongside the interstate.

The driver of the tow truck was struck in the collision and subsequently declared deceased.

The male driver of the pickup truck, identified as Jefferson, sustained minor injuries. He remained on scene and cooperated with the investigators. Jefferson was detained, questioned and subsequently charged with one count of vehicular homicide. He will be booked accordingly into the Orleans Parish Justice Center.

The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office will officially identify the victim in this incident upon completion of autopsy and notification of family.

Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to call NOPD Traffic Fatality Investigator Richard Chambers at 504-658-6205.