By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A car holding four passengers overturned and caught fire near the entrance to River Parishes Hospital on Friday afternoon. The car also hit a light pole, causing power outages down Airline Highway and Belle Terre Boulevard.
All passengers escaped with only minor injuries.
St. John the Baptist Parish deputies, firemen and Louisiana State Police came out to assist with the accident scene.
The driver, 27-year-old Anthony Brown of Garyville, said he’s just happy to be alive.
Brown said that he was driving when a car in front of them stopped short after speeding up in an attempt to beat the traffic light.
According to Brown, he swerved to avoid hitting the vehicle and accidentally lost control of the car, running off of the road.
“The next thing I know, we were turned over on the side of the road here. The car started smoking like it was going to catch fire,” he said. “I could barely move myself, but my girl was knocked out. I had to drag her out through the ditch.”
Law enforcement officers on the scene declined to comment.
At this time it is unknown whether alcohol or some other impairment played a role in the accident.