Lake Charles, LA - A 48-year-old Lake Charles man is facing several criminal charges after a five-vehicle crash shut down both directions of I-210 on Saturday, according to the Lake Charles Police Department.
Police identified the driver as Noah Miller, 48, of Lake Charles. Investigators say Miller was involved in a chain reaction crash on Interstate 210 near the overpass at Holly Hill Road in Lake Charles.
Charges Filed
Lake Charles police confirmed that Miller was booked on the following charges:
- Battery of a police officer
- First-degree vehicular negligent injuring
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense
- Reckless operation
First-degree vehicular negligent injuring is a felony charge in Louisiana that typically involves causing serious bodily injury to another person while breaking certain traffic or criminal laws, including driving while intoxicated.
How The Crash Happened
According to Lake Charles Police Department, the incident began when, for reasons that remain under investigation, a vehicle traveling westbound on I-210 crossed the median. The vehicle then struck another vehicle before rolling into additional vehicles in the eastbound lanes.
In total, five vehicles were involved in the crash, police said.
Authorities reported that four people were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. No fatalities were reported. Police did not release the names or ages of the injured individuals.
Debris Reported Falling From Overpass
Reports from other drivers indicated that parts of at least one vehicle went over the side of the I-210 overpass and landed on the street below along Holly Hill Road. Police did not immediately confirm the extent of the debris field but acknowledged the crash occurred on the elevated section of the interstate.
The incident caused significant disruption to traffic. Both lanes of I-210 were shut down for about an hour while emergency crews responded, assisted the injured, and cleared damaged vehicles from the roadway. Traffic in the area was backed up while lanes were closed.
Ongoing Investigation
Lake Charles Police Department has not released additional information about the sequence of events leading up to the crash, the type of vehicles involved, or Miller’s condition at the time of arrest beyond the listed charges. The reason the westbound vehicle crossed the median remains unknown.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.