AVONDALE, La. — Early Saturday evening, Louisiana State Police began investigating a multi-vehicle crash stemming from what investigators believe to be road rage related on LA 18 near LA 541 in Jefferson Parish.
The fatal crash claimed the life of 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans, 31-year-old Raish-Nia Wright and 11-year-old Dezerra Wright of Tennessee.
Troop B reports that a 2010 Ford F-150 pickup was traveling eastbound on LA 18 near LA 541 with a 2002 Dodge Durango driven by Ferrara following closely at a high rate of speed.
As the two-lane road became 4-lanes, the Durango continued eastbound in the left lane now next to the F-150 pickup. The Durango struck the right side of the F-150 pickup causing the Durango to rotate into the westbound lanes of travel.
At the same time, a 2016 Hyundai Elantra driven by Wright was traveling westbound on LA 18. The Elantra struck the Durango causing a substantial amount of intrusion.
Ferrara, Wright and Dezerra were both pronounced deceased on the scene.
An additional passenger in the Elantra, an 11-year-old child, was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.
There is no additional information at this time.