Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a three vehicle crash on Interstate 12 near LA Hwy 1077 in St. Tammany Parish. The crash claimed the life of 37-year-old Silver Angel of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The initial investigation revealed the crash occurred as a 2007 Jeep Liberty was westbound on Interstate 12 in the right lane. At the same time, a 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Angel, was westbound on Interstate 12 in the left lane. For reasons still under investigation, the Jeep traveled into the left lane and impacted the Volkswagen. After initial impact, the Volkswagen traveled out of the travel lanes and impacted a 2023 International 18-wheeler parked on the right shoulder. Driver Killed in St. Tammany Parish Crash
Note: Many news articles incorrectly list Silver Angel as a female. The family and friends of the victim wish to have this corrected. Photo below is courtesy of Christina Foust.
Because the bottom of a truck is higher than the bumper of passenger vehicles, when there is a collision the smaller vehicle easily slides under the truck and the first point of impact is the windshield. Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes —front, side, and rear — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.
Silver Angel, Precious One Gone Too Soon
See Underride Crash Memorials posted here and at #STOPunderrides Tweets. To add photos or more information on this story or to add other underride crashes to be remembered, send an email to underridemap@gmail.com. Please use this Interactive Underride Crash Map Crash Location Input Form to provide us with accurate information . (Note: the map is currently not online; but we would keep the information for future updating and to aid in underride advocacy efforts.)
Support improving Underride Protection on trailers: Contact your legislators with this User-Friendly TAKE ACTION online tool.
Please sign this petition: Secretary Pete, It’s Past Time To End Death By Underride!
Note: In order to raise awareness and preserve the memories of underride victims — precious ones gone too soon — I have been writing memorial posts on what could potentially be underride crashes. I am not a crash reconstructionist, and I do not have all the facts on these crashes; but underride should be investigated as a potential factor in truck crash injuries and deaths.
We are asking that people send us crash reports for collisions with trucks which they suspect involved underride. Send them to marianne@annaleahmary.com. We will submit these as complaints to USDOT. Read more here: Launching a Campaign To Flood NHTSA With Underride Complaint Reports.
