By LEONARD GRAY – Managing Editor

LAPLACE – Investigation is continuing into a fatality crash Friday evening at Windsor Drive and East Airline Highway in LaPlace. The driver of a Nissan pickup truck lost control of the vehicle and struck and killed a man walking along the highway’s shoulder.

Trooper Omar Landrum of Louisiana State Police Troop B reported that on March 19 at 7:29 p.m., a 1997 Nissan pickup was traveling eastbound on Airline when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Landrum said the driver, Jewell Scott Cannon, 35, of LaPlace, lost control of the truck, which veered onto the right shoulder and struck Billy J. Bria, 41, of LaPlace.

The impact knocked Bria onto a nearby grassy area, but he succumbed to his injuries at River Parishes Hospital, where he had been transported following the accident.

Cannon was reported wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Landrum continued. He was charged with careless operation of a motor vehicle, and other charges will be determined at a later date.

Alcohol was not considered to be a contributing factor to the accident.

Louisiana State Police Troop C reported as well that a single-vehicle accident Saturday in Vacherie closed a major intersection there for almost nine hours, due to a liquid nitrogen release.

Trooper First Class Matt Trahan reported that on March 20 at 7:06 a.m., Arthur L. Felder Jr., 39, of Baytown, Texas, was driving a 2001 International 18-wheeler southbound on Louisiana Highway 3127.

As he approached the intersection with Louisiana Highway 20, Felder ran the red light, while another vehicle was in the intersection, Trahan said.

However, the State Police spokesman continued, when Felder slammed on the brakes and veered to avoid impact with the second vehicle, his load of 79,000 pounds of liquid nitrogen caused the truck to jackknife.

The truck went off the road to the right, where it hit a utility pole and a metal traffic light pole, then overturned onto its right side, while the cab stayed upright.

A very small amount of liquid nitrogen leaked from the tank, Trahan reported, which prompted response from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana State Police HazMat team, along with St. James Parish emergency responders.

Traffic was closed at the major Vacherie intersection from 7:06 a.m. To 3:47 p.m.

Felder received moderate injuries when the truck cab struck the traffic pole. He was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, where his injuries were treated. He was also cited for failure to stop at a red light. Trooper Troy Landry is continuing his investigation, and additional charges are possible.

Alcohol was not involved, and Felder was wearing his seat belt.