On Friday, shortly before 10:00 PM, Troopers from Troop L responded to a fatal crash involving several vehicles on I-12 westbound near US 11. The crash has claimed the life of 77-year-old Grace Barthel and 55-year-old Ronald Destgermain, both of Mandeville. The crash occurred as a Dodge Durango, driven by 35-year-old Nicholas Romain of Lacombe, was traveling westbound in the left lane and came to a stop with Romain unresponsive in the driver’s seat. This resulted in a four vehicle rear-end crash involving a Toyota Tacoma, a Honda Accord driven by Barthel, and an Audi A6. Barthel along with her passenger, Destgermain, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver along with a passenger of the A6 received serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital. Romain and the driver of the Tacoma were not injured. Impairment is suspected on the part of Romain. He was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail for Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Obstruction of a Highway of Commerce, and Possession of Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance). The investigation is ongoing.
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