Louisiana State Police are investigating two separate traffic accidents, involving a charter bus, that left two people dead and multiple people injured.
The accident happened around 6:40 a.m. Sunday near mile marker 203.
According to State Police, Troop B troopers and members of the St. John the Baptist Fire Department responded to an accident involving a Nissan pickup truck which came to rest in the right shoulder of the interstate.
As crews were looking to close the roadway to help first responders on the scene, a west-bound charter bus lost control for unknown reasons and struck a fire engine parked in the right lane, prior to hitting a car from behind. The car was pushed into the rear of a Chevrolet pickup truck and flatbed trailer.
After striking the car, the bus then struck three firefighters, throwing them from the elevated portion of the interstate over the guard rail and into the water below.
One of the firefighters, identified as District Chief Spencer Chauvin with the St. John the Baptist Fire Department, was pronounced dead at River Parishes Hospital. The other two firefighters were identified as 35-year-old William Mack Beal of Gonzales and 32-year-old Nicholas Saale of Ponchatoula. Beal suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a local facility. Saale was airlifted to the University Medical Center Level 1 Trauma Center with critical injuries, according to police.
One of the rear passengers in the car, identified as 21-year-old Jermaine Starr of Moss Point, MS was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car, identified as 35-year-old Marcus Tate, also of Moss Point, was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with serious injuries.
The front seat passenger in Tate’s car, identified as Vontravous Kelly, and the other rear seat passenger, identified as David Jones, both of Moss Point, were taken to University Medical Center. Kelly is listed in critical condition and Jones is listed in serious condition.
The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as 48-year-old Emiliano Acosta of Kenner and the front seat passenger was identified as 50-year-old Solma Almendarez, also of Kenner. The rear seat passengers in the Chevrolet were identified as 30-year-old Jenyfer Espinal of Kenner and two 10-year-old juveniles. All in the Chevrolet pickup suffered minor to moderate injuries and were transported local hospitals.