8-year-old killed in 3-car accident near Fifth Ward

An 8-year-old child was killed and three people were injured when a cement truck rear-ended their stopped vehicle on La. Hwy 1 Monday morning.

State Police Troop E said troopers responded to the call north of Fifth Ward at about 7:45 a.m. The deceased child was a passenger in a northbound 2017 Hyundai Elantra that had stopped to turn left into a private drive. Two other children and the driver of that vehicle sustained moderate injuries in the three-car accident.

State Police said a northbound 2000 International commercial vehicle driven by Gene A. Lemoine, 34, of Cottonport failed to stop as he approached the Hyundai. Lemoine's vehicle struck the car, pushing it into the southbound lane where it was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

All passengers and drivers in the incident were wearing seatbelts. The driver and two children in the Hyundai sustained injuries and were taken to a local hospital. The drivers of the International and F-150 reported no injuries.

The 8-year-old passenger received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, a Troop E spokesman said.

So far this year Troop E has investigated 52 fatal accidents resulting in 54 deaths.