UPDATE: State Police say that 22-year-old Leandro Gonzalez of Kenner has now died.
ORIGINAL STORY: One person died and another was seriously injured in an accident on Airline Highway Sunday afternoon.
Celeste Andre, 21, of St. Amant died in the accident. The 17-year-old driver of the car she was riding in was seriously injured, troopers say.
The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The driver of a Lexus was traveling at a high rate of speed. As he approached an intersection, the car began to rotate, then rear-ended a pick-up truck. The truck then hit another car, which in turn hit another truck, troopers say.
Despite the fact that she was properly restrained, Andre sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. She was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries, troopers say.
The driver of the car also properly restrained; however, he sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. All other parties were properly restrained and sustained only minor injuries. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash, but routine toxicology samples were taken and will be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for further analysis. This crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.
Troopers say: Motorists should always obey posted speed limits due to the fact that traveling at a high rate of speed decreases the amount of a time a driver has to react in an emergency situation. Furthermore, while not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as never driving while impaired, always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, and obeying all traffic laws can often mean the difference between life and death.
