State Police said the Sundayt evening accident happened near the north-bound end of the Interstate 55 high rise here.
Troopers said the crash occurred as a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, driven by 23-year-old Brandon Hampton of Clinton, Miss. was traveling north in the right lane of Interstate 55.
Traveling alongside the Mercury was a 1999 Mack 18-wheeler truck in the left northbound lane.
As both vehicles continued northbound, the Mercury, for unknown reasons, drifted left across the center-dashed line and sideswiped the right side of the 18-wheeler. Upon impact, Hampton overcorrected to the right, causing the vehicle to run off road and overturn as it entered a canal along the east side of the interstate.
Once in the canal, the Mercury came to rest upside down in approximately five feet of water.
The truck driver, 47-year-old Steven Dardar of Houma, was wearing a seat belt and received no injuries in the crash. He submitted to a breath alcohol test showing no detectable signs of alcohol in his system.
Hampton and front-seat passenger, 23-year-old Amanda Booker of Jackson, Miss., were unable to exit the vehicle following the crash and were pronounced dead.
Post a Comment
