GROSSE TETE, LA. (KLFY) -UPDATE: At approximately 2 a.m. this morning, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating a fatal, four-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 eastbound east of Grosse Tete in West Baton Rouge Parish.
The victims have been identified as 55-year-old Alex Willett of Orange, Texas, and his passenger, 53-year-old John Mack, of Beaumont.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as eastbound traffic on I-10 came to a stop due to congestion from a previous crash.
For reasons still under investigation, Willett failed to reduce the speed of his 2016 Peterbuilt as he approached stopped traffic in the right lane.
Willett’s vehicle struck the rear of a 2016 Freightliner driven by 48-year-old Kimberly Mack of Asheville, NC.
The impact pushed Mack’s vehicle forward into the rear of a 2013 International driven by 53-year-old Bret Bay of Niceville, Fla.
Kimberly Mack’s vehicle overturned and came to rest in the median. Bay’s vehicle was pushed forward into the rear of a 2016 International driven by 30 year Cleshown Weathersby of Houston.
Alex Willet and John Mack sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office.
The other parties involved sustained minor to moderate injuries. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash and a toxicology sample will be taken from all drivers for analysis.
ORIGINAL STORY: State Police are currently investigating a fatal crash on I-10 Eastbound east of Grosse Tete.
According to officials, the crash involves multiple 18-wheelers and the area is currently closed.
Troopers are diverting traffic from I-10 Eastbound onto I-49 Northbound.
Traffic will then exit I-49 North onto U.S. 190 east to Baton Rouge.
