Norco suspect arrested; N.O. tow truck driver killed in St. John wreck
Published 5:22 pm Thursday, March 2, 2017
LAPLACE — A tow truck driver servicing a vehicle along I-55 north at milepost 11.8 in St. John the Baptist Parish was struck and killed Thursday, authorities said.
The violent wreck involved four vehicles and led to numerous criminal charges for a Norco woman, including vehicular homicide, according to the initial investigation from Louisiana State Police.
Trooper Melissa Matey said 34-year-old Macy Lee Alvey II, a New Orleans resident who works for Rony’s Towing and Recovery, was pronounced dead on the scene at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday, killed during a crash caused by an impaired driver’s failure to abide by the state’s “Move Over” law.
The mandate requires approaching drivers to change lanes into a lane not adjacent to any parked vehicle utilizing warning lights and stopped near the highway.
Police said a Nissan Rogue, driven by 48-year-old Kimela Hall of Norco in the right lane of I-55, sideswiped a disabled Chevrolet and Alvey’s tow truck. Alvey, standing on the driver’s side of the tow truck, was hit by the Nissan and killed. The Rogue hit the right guardrail, overturned and came to rest across both lanes of I-55 before getting hit by a Pontiac Grand Am driven by Nina Kincaid, 59, of Hammond.
Kevin Brown, 53, of New Orleans drove the disabled Chevrolet Silverado, which was being tended to by Alvey before the crash occurred. State Police said Alvey was pronounced dead on the scene and Kincaid and Hall were taken to North Oaks Hospital.
Kincaid’s injuries were initially described as “critical,” while Hall was classified with “moderate” injuries. Brown was not injured.
Impairment is suspected on the part of Hall, Matey said, adding a blood sample was obtained and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is conducting a toxicology test.
Hall was arrested for vehicular homicide, first degree vehicular negligent injuring, failure to move over for an emergency vehicle, careless operation and suspended driver’s license.