EAST FORK – Shortly after 6:00 pm Friday evening, Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a double fatality crash on LA 38 east of Kentwood in Tangipahoa Parish.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred as a 2005 Lincoln LS sedan, driven by Elizabeth "Gail" Pittman McDaniel (W/F age 66) of Kentwood, LA, was stopped in the eastbound lane of LA 38 preparing to make a left turn into a private drive. 

As the Lincoln remained stopped in the roadway, a 2007 Western Star 18-wheeler, driven by Stennis Darnel Taylor (B/M age 50) of Magnolia, MS, was eastbound on LA 38 approaching the Lincoln from the rear.  Taylor failed to observe the Lincoln stopped in the roadway and attempted to pass the Lincoln on its left side to avoid a rear-end impact.  As the Western Star 18-wheeler, towing a wood chip trailer, crossed into the westbound lane of LA 38, the Lincoln began to turn left and was impacted on its left side by the front end of the truck.

Emergency crews on the scene extricated the four victims from the wreckage.

Pittman and front seat passenger, Carol Gill (W/F age 75), were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were airlifted from the scene with serious injuries.  Pittman was transported to Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington and Gill was taken to North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond where they remain in serious condition.  The two rear passengers in the Lincoln, Lorina Smith (W/F age 74) and Catherine Simmons (W/F age 73), were not properly restrained at the time of the crash and were pronounced dead at the scene by the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office.  All four occupants in the Lincoln were from the Spring Creek area. Pittman is a Tangipahoa Parish School Board member, who was elected in November, 2010, and began serving a four-year term on the board in January of last year.

Taylor was wearing a seatbelt and received no injuries in the crash.  He was charged with two counts each of Negligent Homicide and Negligent Injuring and was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, where he remained as of early Saturday.

Alcohol and/or drug impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash with toxicology results from each driver pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's deputies, Kentwood Police, Kentwood Volunteer Fire, Acadian Ambulance, Acadian Air-Med, and the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner's office assisted at the scene of the wreck.