POSTED: Thursday, December 20, 2012 - 1:00pm
UPDATED: Friday, December 21, 2012 - 12:26pm
LACOMBE, LA (NBC33) — The two victims who were severely burned after an 18-wheeler crashed near Lacombe have been identified.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, Ronald Phelps, 25, of Whitsett, NC and Tiffany Payne, 21, of White Oak, NC, were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19. [2]
The 18-wheeler drifted off I-12 for unknown reasons and traveled along the grass shoulder for 300 feet before it impacted several trees. The vehicle immediately caught fire, trapping the passengers inside. However, passing motorists stopped to provide assistance. They managed to pull David Sarty, 25, of Hope Mills, NC, out of the vehicle.
Sarty was transported to the University Medical Center in New Orleans where he is currently being treated for serious injuries.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.