Shortly before 8:00 pm on Sunday, March 13, Troopers were dispatched to a fatal crash on Interstate 10 eastbound, east of LA 42 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 GMC Pickup and a 2001 Mercedes SUV were traveling west on Interstate 10 when they collided. The pickup then crossed the median as it rotated clockwise and sideswiped the trailer of a 2008 Peterbuilt truck. The pickup then struck a 1997 Acura passenger car head on. After the collision, the Acura came to an abrupt stop in the left lane of Interstate 10 eastbound and immediately caught fire. The pickup was heavily damaged and came to rest off the right shoulder of Interstate 10 eastbound.

The five occupants in the Acura died in the crash. The driver, Effie Fontenot (W/F, age 29) of Prairieville, and the front seat passenger, Kim Stagg (W/F, age 19) of Prairieville, were the only two adults in the vehicle. The three children in the back seat who were also killed in the crash were Austin Fontenot (W/M, age 3), Hunter Johnson (W/M, age 7) and Keagan Fontenot (W/M, age 11).

The driver of the pickup, David Leger (W/M, age 29) of Palmetto, and his passenger, Rebecca Obrien (W/F, age 28) of Bunkie, were both injured in the crash and were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. The driver of the SUV, Kelsye Hall (B/F, age 24) of Baton Rouge was not injured. The driver of the Peterbuilt, Calvin Vincent (W/M, age 60) of Texas City, TX, was also uninjured in the crash.

“This is a horrible tragedy and our thoughts are with those lost in the crash as well as their families and friends,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “These were needless deaths; this crash did not have to happen. In fact, it has been less than two years since another fatal crash in the same area killed six people, several of them children.”