Lake Charles, Louisiana – A fatal three-vehicle crash occurred on November 8, 2024, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, resulting in the death of a 60-year-old woman from Lake Charles. According to Louisiana State Police Troop D, the incident took place on Nelson Road near the intersection of Plantation Drive.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Donna Chimeno of Lake Charles was driving a 2019 Honda HR-V south on Nelson Road in the outside lane when the vehicle suddenly switched lanes to the left, directly into the path of a 2024 Jeep Cherokee traveling in the inside lane. The Jeep struck the rear of the Honda, causing it to cross the centerline and enter the northbound inside lane of Nelson Road, where it collided head-on with a 2022 Ford delivery van.
Chimeno, who was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the Ford van and the driver of the Jeep were properly restrained and uninjured.
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, authorities have collected standard toxicology samples from all three drivers for analysis. Impairment is not suspected to have played a role in the incident.
Louisiana State Police Troop D is urging drivers to exercise caution and avoid inattentive and distracted driving behaviors to prevent similar crashes in the future. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.