Gonzales, Louisiana - Just before 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2026, a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 westbound near milepost 179 in Ascension Parish left two people dead and two others injured, according to Louisiana State Police Troop A.

Troopers reported that the crash occurred in the left lane of I-10 west, in the Gonzales area, while officers were already on the scene of an earlier, separate crash.

What Investigators Say Happened

The preliminary investigation by Louisiana State Police indicates that a 2022 Toyota RAV4 was traveling west on I-10 in the left lane near milepost 179. At the same time, a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe, described as a fully marked Gonzales Police Department unit, was unoccupied and parked in the left lane with its emergency lights activated.

Troopers said officers had positioned the Tahoe in the lane while they investigated the earlier crash. For reasons that remain under investigation, the Toyota RAV4 struck the rear of the stationary police SUV.

Authorities did not release the name of the Toyota’s driver or front seat passenger in the initial report.

Victims Identified As Cincinnati Residents

Louisiana State Police identified the two people who died as:

• Jose Luis Martinez II, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio – rear left passenger
• Ashley Garza, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio – rear right passenger

According to troopers, all occupants in the Toyota were properly restrained at the time of the crash.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene. Garza sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.

The driver and front seat passenger suffered moderate injuries. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, officials said.

Seat Belts And Injury Details

Troopers said in their report that everyone inside the Toyota was properly restrained, meaning they were using seat belts as required under Louisiana law.

Impairment Testing And Ongoing Investigation

State Police said impairment is unknown at this stage of the investigation. As is standard practice in fatal crashes, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. Results from those tests typically take some time to return from the crime lab.

No determination has been made publicly about factors such as speed, distraction, visibility, or roadway conditions at the time of the incident. Troopers stated that the crash remains under investigation.

Police Vehicle Positioned At Earlier Crash

The Chevrolet Tahoe involved was a fully marked Gonzales Police Department patrol unit, according to the State Police report. The SUV was unoccupied, parked in the left lane, and had its emergency lights activated while Gonzales officers worked a separate crash on I-10.

Positioning a marked police unit with emergency lights on is a common practice during roadway crash scenes, both to protect first responders and to alert drivers to lane closures or hazards ahead. In this case, investigators are looking into why the Toyota struck the rear of the parked Tahoe despite those warning lights.

Authorities did not provide details about the original crash that officers were investigating prior to this fatal incident.