May 30, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Afternoon Accident Sends Three to Hospital

A late afternoon accident has sent three Shreveporters to the hospital, one with serious injuries. Shreveport fire personnel responded to the intersection of North Common and North Market shortly after 2:30 p.m. for the report of a multiple car accident with trapped victims. When crews arrived, they found the twisted metal wreckage of a small pickup and Mercury Marquis intertwined in the middle of the six lane roadway. Another vehicle, a late model Mitsubishi Galant, lay with its front end ripped off twenty feet away.

It appears that the pickup, traveling south on North Market ran the red light at a high rate of speed and struck the other two vehicles as they pulled out from the eastbound lane of North Common. The pickup first struck the front of the Galant, as it was in the left-hand lane, and then crashed full speed into the broadside of the Marquis, who was in the right-hand lane.

Firefighters surveying the situation found only one driver and no passengers to each vehicle. Immediately apparent was that the driver of the Marquis needed rapid extrication. Rescue crews used the Jaws of Life to pry back the crushed driver’s side door and free a 58-year-old patient. His condition was listed as serious but stable by paramedics. In the pickup, 22-year-old Donald Motichelk of Shreveport had initially gotten out of the truck and walked around the accident scene before lying back into the bench seat of the truck. He was treated for moderate injuries. In the Galant was 63-year-old Albert Williams who was treated for minor injuries. All three were transported by department paramedics to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). It was unclear as to whether or not Shreveport Police had issued any tickets.

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