Update: One Killed In Early Morning Crash

One person is dead following an early morning wreck on I-49 in DeSoto Parish. Louisiana State Troopers say it happened around 6:30 this morning when a tractor trailer was struck from behind by a passenger vehicle traveling northbound on the roadway just south of LA-175. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 1999 Western Star tractor trailer driven by 42-year-old James Castleberry of Queen City, TX, was disabled on the north bound shoulder of Interstate 49 due to transmission problems, when a 2011 Dodge Pickup driven by 29 year-old Charles Mitchell of Emory, TX collided with the tractor trailer from the rear.  The Dodge Pickup then came to a stop partially blocking the right travel lane and a 2007 Ford Pickup driven by 68 year-old Larry Richard of Scott, LA side swiped the Dodge Pickup, lost control, exited the right side of the roadway, and came to a stop.

Charles Mitchell was not wearing a seat belt during the crash and was seriously injured.  Mitchell’s passenger, 30 year-old Jonathon Wallace of Colonial Heights, VA, was also not wearing a seat belt during the crash and was killed. Mitchell was transported by Life Air to a local hospital for his injuries and Wallace was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner.

Larry Richard and his passenger 42 year-old Troy Richard of Edmond, OK were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were not seriously injured. 

Reports say that Mitchell was traveling at a high rate of speed when the impact occurred. Impairment is suspected and toxicology tests are pending. 

This crash remains under investigation.