Honduran man killed in 9-vehicle chain reaction crash on I-10 in Metairie

Gallery: Fatal wreck closes I-10 in Metairie

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

A chaotic nine-vehicle chain-reaction crash on Interstate ten in Metairie claimed the life of a Honduran man Tuesday morning.

Isidro Orellana, 67, died of injuries he received while railing in a two thousand eight Ford Concentrate that was hit several times, according to State Police Trooper Melissa Matey, Spokeswoman for Troop B.

The crash occurred about five a.m. on westbound I-10 inbetween Veterans Memorial Boulevard and the Transcontinental Drive overpass. The driver of a two thousand six Saturn Ion was stopped in the left lane after his car became disabled when attempted to switch lanes and overcorrected, according to Matey.

A two thousand sixteen Chevrolet Suburban stopped behind the Saturn. The Ford in which Orellana was railing in the same lane was slowing when a 32-foot box truck hit the Ford on the rear driver’s side, Matey said.

The force of the influence sent the Ford crashing into the rear of the Suburban. The Ford then began to spin counterclockwise into the left center lane. That’s where an 18-wheeler hit the Ford.

The still-spinning vehicle again clipped the Suburban before coming to a rest inbetween the left shoulder of the highway and the left lane, Matey said.

Firefighters with the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department had to extricate Orellana from the vehicle, according to authorities. He was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Ford’s 47-year-old driver and another passenger, 31, were taken to University Medical Center in Fresh Orleans for treatment of moderate injuries.

After hitting the Ford, the box truck continued on the left shoulder past the Suburban and veered right, hitting the Saturn, Matey said. That caused the teetering box truck to spin onto its left side and slide down the highway. Firefighters also had to help the box truck’s driver out of his vehicle.

Several other chain-reaction crashes occurred as drivers attempted to avoid the wrecks occurred in the left and center lanes. Two 18-wheelers and two cars also received minor harm. No one else was injured.

The crash is still under investigation. Criminal charges are possible, Matey said.

State Police officials wished to remind motorists and passengers to always buckle seat belts.

“While not all crashes are survivable, simply buckling up greatly increases your chances of surviving a crash,” Matey said.

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