Louisiana State Police say they’re looking into the owners of a bus that hit a firetruck, other vehicles and three firefighters on an elevated stretch of Interstate 10, killing two people and injuring dozens. Lawson lost control of the Titan and hit the left guardrail, crossed the highway and struck the right guardrail.
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“The bus was out of control for reasons under investigation, that bus struck the fire department ladder truck that was blocking the roadway, came across the right lane and impacted three firemen, again, assigned to the St. John Fire District”.
The driver and front seat passenger of a Toyota Camry that was hit by the bus were transported to local hospitals, but the back seat passenger, identified as Jermaine Starr, 21, of Moss Point, Mississippi, was declared dead at the scene, Matey said.
One of the people killed was a district fire chief from the St. John the Baptist Fire Department, Louisiana State Police Trooper Melissa Matey said.
One firefighter and a passenger from MS died.
Police are still investigating the crash, she said.
“This is a very sad day for all first responders in Louisiana”, Colonel Mike Edmonson, Louisiana State Police Superintendent said in a statement obtained by Fox 8. Another passenger was critically injured, and the driver and third passenger were seriously injured.
Other injuries – including the Titan’s two occupants, who suffered minor injuries in the original crash – ranged from minor to moderate, Matey said.
Firefighter Nicholas Saale, 32, of Ponchatoula, and Camry passenger Vontravous Kelly of Moss Point, Mississippi, are in critical condition, she said.
Authorities said they are still unsure which construction company hired the passengers on the bus headed to Baton Rouge.
The bus driver, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, is from the Honduras and is in the USA illegally, Matey said.
Rodriguez, who the Louisiana State Police referred to as an “illegal alien”, is an undocumented immigrant and does not have a driver’s license nor a license to operate a commercial vehicle. Firefighter William Mack Beal, 35, of Gonzales, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Chief Chauvin was airlifted to River Parishes Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
This particular model, which ABC noted was owned by Kristina’s Transportation LLC/AM Party Bus, was a party bus – the kind a fraternity might rent out for a date night party. Kelly is in critical condition and Jones is in serious condition, police said. It is heartbreaking, especially after this same group of individuals helped to guide St. John the Baptist Parish safely through Hurricane Isaac, the February tornado and the flood event last week.
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Trooper Melissa Matey says questions include whether the bus was in good fix and why it went out of control Sunday night.
