DENHAM SPRINGS — A devastating accident on Linder Road early Tuesday morning left two young victims dead and three others seriously injured. The single-vehicle crash happened around 3 a.m., with the first reports coming from nearby residents who rushed to the scene.
Kristy Hodges, a homeowner who witnessed the aftermath, recounted the harrowing experience.
“I want to say, about 2:30-ish in the morning, my neighbor came knocking on my door. They were the first ones to hear it. I got up, we went outside. That’s when we noticed the car was against the pole,” she shared. “We thought there was only one individual involved until we started hearing other noises.”
“Both our husbands came out. We’re trying to console them, the ones we could see until the police and everybody showed up,” she continued.
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene shortly after 3 a.m. confirming two fatalities, while three other passengers were transported to local hospitals. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Hodges, who has lived in the area since 2002, described Linder Road as hazardous due to its poor lighting, crumbling pavement, sharp curves, and deep ditches. She emphasized the dangerous nature of the roadway, which has been the site of numerous crashes.
“I’ve never seen so many accidents. The road is crumbling. The road is beyond narrow, very curvy. There’s minimal lights, definitely not where they should be to avoid things like this,” she said. “People fly like it’s a racetrack.”
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The impact of the crash was severe, causing a utility pole to break and lower power lines near her home. Hours later, as a sheriff’s deputy remained stationed nearby, Hodges learned that all occupants of the vehicle were teenagers.
“I have a teenage daughter myself, so that’s when it hit me,” she said somberly.
UWK has learned four of the five involved in the crash were former students at Denham Springs High School and one was a current student. The current student was not among the deceased. Officials have counselors on staff for any current students, who may need them.
According to authorities, it remains unclear why the vehicle veered off the roadway. The crash site was cleared by 5:00 a.m., leaving behind a shaken community and grieving families.
The investigation into the fatal accident continues.
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