Pearl River – On Wednesday this week (January 26), shortly after 3:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police L Troop troopers began investigating a single-vehicle crash on I-59 north of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish. The accident injured five people. Two adults sustained serious to moderate injuries and three children sustained moderate injuries.
Initial investigation revealed the crash occurred while a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 was traveling south on I-59. For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet veered off the road to the right and hit a large tree.
The driver was properly restrained and sustained moderate injuries. The front passenger was properly restrained and sustained serious injuries. There were three unrestrained children under the age of 10 in the vehicle, all of whom sustained moderate injuries. All five occupants were transported to area hospitals. No impairment is suspected and this accident is still under investigation.
Every occupant of a motor vehicle is required by Louisiana law to be properly restrained by a seat belt or child restraint. It’s a proven fact that car seats and booster seats save lives and prevent injuries. Child safety seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a collision. However, approximately 3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly. This rate of misuse can be attributed to the wide variety of car seats available, the range of child weights and sizes, and the wide range of vehicles in today’s market.
Troop L is a nationally recognized child seat fitting station. Certified car seat technicians are available every Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. at 2600 North Causeway Blvd. in Mandeville, without appointment. If you have any questions about your child’s seat or just want to make sure your seat is installed correctly, please visit Troop L. You can also visit: Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to find the nearest fitting station in your area. region. Please review all statewide events and updated safety information on BuckleUpLouisiana.