A three-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 East in Jennings claimed the life of a 54-year-old Branch man on Tuesday, according to the Louisiana State Police.
The victim has been identified as Dana Ortego.
Troopers said the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, on I-10 East. Investigators said Ortego was driving a 2022 GMC Canyon eastbound in the left lane behind a Chevrolet Tahoe when traffic began to slow due to an object in the roadway. The Tahoe braked suddenly, and Ortego attempted to avoid a collision but struck its rear.
According to LSP, the impact caused Ortego’s vehicle to move into the right lane for reasons still under investigation, where it entered the path of a commercial motor vehicle. The CMV struck the rear of the GMC, forcing it off the roadway and into a tree line.
Authorities said Ortego, who was improperly restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other serious injuries were reported.
The crash remains under investigation as troopers continue working to determine the full sequence of events and contributing factors that led to the fatal collision.
