Note: A previous edit of this article listed the location of the accident as the intersection of Airline Highway and Jackson Street. Kenner PD later confirmed the correct location as Airline Highway and Webster Street.
KENNER, La. (WGNO) — The Kenner Police Department reported a fatal crash that claimed the lives of three people and placed another in critical condition late Saturday night.
According to a KPD report, officers responded to the intersection of Airline Highway and Webster Street at 10 p.m. on Jan. 22 to investigate a fatal two-car accident. The vehicles involved were a Nissan Armada and a Dodge Caliber.
The report claimed that witnesses said the Nissan, driven by 39-year-old Elvin Torres, was driving eastbound along Airline Highway in the wrong direction at a high rate of speed.
To avoid striking an oncoming vehicle, Torres’ car swerved and instead struck the Dodge Caliber, driven by 67-year-old Willie Harris, Jr. Police say Harris was stopped at a stop sign, waiting to cross Airline Highway when his car was struck.
In the final moments of the collision, the two cars struck a power pole, causing a power outage in the area of the accident.
Torres, Harris, and 45-year-old Taralyn Session, a passenger riding in Harris’ car, were all killed in the accident.
KPD reported one survivor of the crash, 31-year-old Cesar Osegvera. He was a passenger in Torres’ car at the time of the collision.
Police say drugs and alcohol are believed to have influenced the crash. The incident remains under investigation.
