Family and friends are mourning the loss of a woman they say was a wonderful soul and a loving mother. Erica Sagona, 37, of Denham Springs, lost her life in a tragic accident on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, while on the way to New Orleans from Walker. The circumstances surrounding why she pulled over on the shoulder of Interstate 55 remain unclear. However, it was during this brief stop that the devastating incident occurred.
Danielle Inglis, a friend of the family, says Sagona had just moved back to Denham Springs from Metairie. She was heading to New Orleans for a doctor’s appointment. Inglis tells UWK she contacted her boyfriend just moments before the crash.
“She called her boyfriend. He stepped away from what he was doing at work and called her right back, like less than a minute later, and her phone went straight to voicemail,” Inglis said.
The exact reason for Sagona pulling over is still unknown; she may have had a flat tire or experienced vehicle trouble. What is known is that she was parked on the shoulder when a 2004 Ford F-150 veered onto the shoulder and hit her vehicle. The impact caused her car to spin out, resulting in her death at the scene.
“Erica was very loving. She was loyal to people who she loved. She would bend over backwards for you,” Inglis recalled.
Known for her feisty spirit, Sagona was the type of person who would do anything to help others. “She’s the kind of girl that would do anything for you and give the shirt off her back to help out, whatever she needed to do,” Inglis shared.
Sagona leaves behind four children. The seven-year-old, in particular, was said to be deeply attached to her mother. The children’s aunt, who is currently in college and already has two children of her own, will be taking custody of her.
To help with expenses, Danielle Inglis has created a GoFundMe page hoping to lighten the load for the aunt and Sagona’s children.
Cory Conrad, 35, of Magnolia, Mississippi, was driving a 2004 Ford F-150 in the southbound right lane when he attempted to pass a vehicle by moving onto the shoulder, police reported. Conrad’s truck collided with the back of Sagona’s car, resulting in the fatal crash.
Authorities noted that Conrad was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries. He now faces charges related to the incident.
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