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Picayune Resident Killed in Crash on Interstate 59 near Pearl River, LA

A Picayune man died of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on I-59 in St. Tammany Parish near Pearl River on Thursday night (May 3), Louisiana State Police stated in a press release.

At approximately 8:17 PM on Thursday May 4, 2018, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a two vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 59 two miles north of the Interstate 10/12/59 split. The crash has claimed the life of 32-year-old Picayune resident Ronnie Joseph Reagan.

The initial investigation led Troopers to determine that the crash occurred as Reagan was driving a 2004 Ford Expedition northbound on Interstate 59 in the left lane. Reagan’s vehicle was struck from behind by a 2012 Lexus, driven by 38-year-old Seggie Tyrone Ruffin of Columbia, Mississippi. The collision caused Reagan’s vehicle to travel into the center median, where it then overturned, before coming to rest in the median on its side. Reagan was unrestrained and was ejected from his vehicle.

Reagan sustained severe injuries in the crash. He was transported by Acadian Air-med to University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Ruffin sustained moderate injuries in the crash. He was transported to Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore.

There was no indication that Ruffin was impaired at the time of the crash. As part of the on-gong investigation, blood samples were collected and will be sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Troopers will forward their findings to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office for consultation of criminal charges.

@WRJW  

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