NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A man was killed early Monday (Oct. 25) on the eastbound Interstate-10 high rise when he was ejected from his car and then struck by another motorist, triggering a four-vehicle crash, New Orleans police said.
The victim’s identity and age have not been disclosed by the NOPD. But the department said the man was ejected onto the roadway and died after being struck around 1:18 a.m. on the downslope of the steep bridge. Four occupants of the other involved vehicles received only minor injuries, police said.
The fatal crash forced closure of the eastbound lanes of I-10 at the high rise for nearly four hours, forcing traffic to be diverted off the interstate. All lanes were reopened by 5 a.m., leaving little disruption to morning commutes.
According to police, the man’s Honda became disabled for reasons still under investigation, and that he had been ejected and was lying on the roadway. Soon after, both the victim and his Honda were struck by an oncoming Crown Victoria sedan. The driver of a third oncoming car stopped at the accident scene, but that driver’s Infiniti was then struck by a fourth vehicle, a Nissan.Police said the surviving drivers remained at the scene and have cooperated with investigators. The NOPD did not say whether any driver has been cited or arrested, or whether impairment was suspected for any of the motorists.
Anyone with additional information on the fatal crash is asked to contact NOPD traffic fatalities detective Michael Baldassaro at (504) 658-6215.