By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A Kenner man was arrested Wednesday by State Police for vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injuring in connection with a June 3 head-on crash in Norco that killed a Reserve man and injured a Garyville man.

Manuel D. Castro, 32, of 4333 Arizona Ave., Kenner, was booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility in St. Charles Parish around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. State Police investigators say Castro was the driver of a vehicle that crashed head on into another vehicle carrying 25-year-old brothers Jeremy and Marcus Fleming. Jeremy Fleming, the driver, died on the scene, while Marcus Fleming, a passenger, was airlifted to Ochsner Hospital with moderate injuries. Castro was also hospitalized with minor injuries.

According to a release from State Police, Jeremy Fleming was traveling south on Airline Highway near Apple Street in Norco in a 1999 Infinity when his vehicle was struck head-on by Castro’s 2003 Chevrolet pick-up shortly before 3 a.m. on June 3.

Trooper Melissa Matey, spokesperson for State Police Troop B, said the pick-up was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes.

She said none of the occupants of either vehicle were wearing seat belts.

At the time of the crash, investigators said it was unclear whether Castro was driving the Chevrolet at the time of the accident because of statements he made to troopers at the scene. Matey said the truck was processed for DNA evidence at the State Police Crime Lab and evidence determined that Castro was the lone occupant of the pick-up.

Castro is being held at the jail on a $100,000 bond.