COVINGTON,LA -
Today at 02:10am, Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a one vehicle serious injury crash on LA 21 north of Covington at milepost #10.1 in St. Tammany Parish.
A 2008 Ford Mustang, driven by Jason Cortez (W/M age 26) of Bush, LA, was traveling north on LA 21. As Cortez, an off duty Covington Police Officer, continued northbound on LA 21, he approached a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office checkpoint manned by three deputies searching for an escaped inmate. Cortez came to a stop prior to the checkpoint and was instructed to proceed forward by the deputies, at which time he accelerated and sped through the checkpoint proceeding northbound on LA 21 at a high rate of speed. As deputies attempted to catch up with the Mustang to conduct a traffic stop, Cortez continued northbound on LA 21 where he failed to negotiate a left curve and ran off the right side of the roadway. Upon leaving the roadway, the Mustang traveled for approximately 72 feet though a ditch before impacting a culvert and becoming airborne. The Mustang rotated counterclockwise and began to overturn when it impacted a utility pole, breaking the pole in half. The vehicle came to rest upright on its wheels in a ditch on the east side of LA 21.
Both the driver and front seat passenger in the Mustang, Brittany Thornhill (W/F age 23) of Covington, LA, were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle. Cortez and Thornhill suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash and were transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital in critical condition.
Alcohol use is suspected to be a factor in the crash. A urine and blood sample was taken from Cortez with results pending at Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing with charges pending against Cortez.
A 2008 Ford Mustang, driven by Jason Cortez (W/M age 26) of Bush, LA, was traveling north on LA 21. As Cortez, an off duty Covington Police Officer, continued northbound on LA 21, he approached a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office checkpoint manned by three deputies searching for an escaped inmate. Cortez came to a stop prior to the checkpoint and was instructed to proceed forward by the deputies, at which time he accelerated and sped through the checkpoint proceeding northbound on LA 21 at a high rate of speed. As deputies attempted to catch up with the Mustang to conduct a traffic stop, Cortez continued northbound on LA 21 where he failed to negotiate a left curve and ran off the right side of the roadway. Upon leaving the roadway, the Mustang traveled for approximately 72 feet though a ditch before impacting a culvert and becoming airborne. The Mustang rotated counterclockwise and began to overturn when it impacted a utility pole, breaking the pole in half. The vehicle came to rest upright on its wheels in a ditch on the east side of LA 21.
Both the driver and front seat passenger in the Mustang, Brittany Thornhill (W/F age 23) of Covington, LA, were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were ejected from the vehicle. Cortez and Thornhill suffered severe injuries as a result of the crash and were transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital in critical condition.
Alcohol use is suspected to be a factor in the crash. A urine and blood sample was taken from Cortez with results pending at Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing with charges pending against Cortez.
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