A head-on crash in Calcasieu Parish claimed the lives of two people Saturday morning.
Louisiana State Police Troop D investigated the crash that occurred around 6:30 am on Highway 397 about a mile north of Interstate10.
Police say a preliminary investigation has revealed that 28 year old Cortny Paul Videalier of Rayne was traveling north in his pick-up truck when for unknown reasons, he crossed the centerline into the opposing lane of travel and collided head-on with a compact vehicle that was driven by 30-year-old Erin Michel Atlow of Lake Charles.
After the collision, both vehicles were spun around and traveled into ditches along each side of the highway. The pickup truck caught fire and both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office. There were no other occupants in the vehicles.
Police say toxicology samples were obtained from the drivers and will be submitted for analysis.
The crash remains under investigation.
