WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, SportsVictims in fatal I-10 crash from Baton Rouge area

Five people were killed in a four vehicle crash that happened just before 3 a.m. Friday morning. A police source tells WAFB 9News, four of them were from metro Baton Rouge.

The crash happened on the elevated portion of Interstate 10 westbound west of LA 3188 in St. John Parish.

Police say a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee was going the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of I-10 when it struck an oncoming 2010 Ford Focus. Shortly after the initial crash, the Jeep was hit by an 18-wheeler, driven by Ryan Firman, 61, of Cottonport, LA, and a 1998 Saturn sedan, driven by Reginald Nutter, 30, of Baton Rouge, LA.

After the initial head-on collision, the Jeep SUV became engulfed in flames. Due to the extent of the fire, seatbelt use and impairment for the driver of the Jeep are unable to be determined pending toxicology results.

The driver and three passengers of the Ford Focus all sustained fatal injuries in the crash and were pronounced dead at the scene. Two of the passengers in the Ford Focus were not properly restrained at the time of the crash. Firman received minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Nutter was transported to River Parish Hospital for minor injuries.

The driver of the Ford has been identified as Lawayne Rice, 30, of Zachary, LA.

The other occupants of the Ford Focus include: Terrell Sims, 27, of Slaughter, Frederick Louis Brown Jr., 19, of Baton Rouge, and Dondray London, 20, of Baton Rouge.

Rice and Sims, were in the front seat wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Brown and London were not properly restrained.

Positive identification of the Jeep Grand Cherokee driver is pending the outcome of an autopsy.

Investigating Troopers report that alcohol impairment is unknown at this time and routine toxicology tests are pending for each driver in the crash. The police say the four people in the Ford Focus had gone to Bourbon Street and were returning home to Baton Rouge.

While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving and lack of seatbelt use. While there have been fewer deaths associated with impaired driving in recent years, there is still much room for improvement.

While not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease an occupant's chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury. Louisiana law requires every vehicle occupant, front seat and back seat, to be properly restrained day or night. Taking the time to buckle up every trip and every time is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.

Motorists that witness hazardous situations are urged to call *LSP (*577) and report that activity to the Louisiana State Police.

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