LAPLACE, LA (WAFB) -
Five families are trying to cope with a harsh reality - the sudden death of people they love in a bizarre car crash.
It happened just after 3 a.m. on I-10 W near LaPlace on Friday. A Jeep Grand Cherokee was going the wrong way on the interstate and hit a car head on.
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.
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 was 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.
Family members said the four guys were on their way back from a night out in New Orleans; turns out, it was their last night together.
"I called them at 2:43 a.m. They said they were on their way down the road, and then at 3:05 a.m., they dead," said Anthony McKneely, victims' brother and cousin.
What started as a night out in New Orleans ended with loved ones trying to accept a harsh reality. "He got his ID. He was 19. He wanted to enjoy his life. Little did he know, it would be the last time he enjoys life," said Sophia Ross.
Ross is the grandmother of Frederick Louis Brown, 19, and aunt of Dondray London, 20. Both were unbuckled in a Ford Focus that was hit head on by a Jeep Cherokee going the wrong way on I-10. Their friends Lawayne Rice, 30, and Terrell Sims, 27, were also in the car. All four died.
McKneely is Brown's brother, but said he had a bad feeling about the night, which is the only thing that kept him from going with the group. "If it was their time, it was their time. Like they wanted me to go out with them, and it wasn't my time," said McKneely.
"Always making songs about his future and didn't even get a chance to see his future," said Kelneisha Williams. London's sister Williams said her brother was an up and coming rapper "Lil Dundray." Friday morning, she received a text while in school telling her her brother is never coming home.
"Me and my brother were so close," said Williams.
Charred pieces of medal are what state troopers found around on the interstate. Troopers said the accident happened near the 206 LaPlace exit on I-10 W. It's the elevated portion of the interstate over water with no median and little shoulder, so the Ford had no way to avoid the Jeep.
"I'm going to keep them in my memories everyday," said McKneely.
Troopers said the driver of the Jeep, Ryan Gibbs, 30, may have driven the wrong way on the interstate for about 20 miles getting on in Ascension and driving through St. James and St. John parishes before the accident.
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Five people die in a four car crash near LaPlace, LA, all from Baton Rouge area
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