Authorities believe driver impairment behind Desoto Parish fatal wreck
By: Morgan Thomas
Updated: December 21, 2012
A fatal wreck had traffic backed up along I-49 northbound Friday morning in Desoto Parish.
State troopers and Desoto Parish Sheriff's deputies worked the scene of the crash involving an 18-wheeler and two pick-up trucks. They had to close I-49 south of highway 175 for several hours while they investigated and cleared the scene.
One man died at the scene. However, his identity is not being released pending notification of next of kin.
According to State Trooper Matt Harris, the 18-wheeler was stopped alongside the road headed northbound. A pick-up truck slammed into the back of it.
"Once it hit it, it came to a rest partially in the travel lane. A third vehicle, another truck, came by and kind of partially hit the back of that truck. They all came to rest blocking the whole northbound lanes of I-49," said Harris.
Trooper Harris says driver impairment seems to be the cause of the crash.
Authorities hope drivers are cautious on the roadways since this is one of the deadliest travel weekends of the year.
"Be more observant of traffic that may have broken down on the side of the road like this accident. Move over to the left to avoid traffic. That way you don't run over any pedestrian, motorist or someone changing a tire or something like that," Sergeant Pat Jones, Desoto Parish Sheriff's Office.
