It was a spectacular crash that left the driver of a pickup dead.
Slidell Police say a man crashed his 2018 Ford F-250 into the St. Tammany Federal Credit Union building on Pontchartrain Drive and Old Spanish Trail late last night.
Arriving officers found the truck had gone through the credit union lobby, smashing a hole on the opposite side of the building from where it entered.
The driver of the vehicle, 44-year-old Slidell resident, William Mancuso was not properly restrained and sustained fatal injuries during the crash.
Mancuso was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Mancuso was traveling north on Pontchartrain Drive, at a high rate of speed.
Mancuso failed to navigate a curve in the road, and continued straight into the building.
Speed and impairment are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash. Toxicology results are pending.
Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal stated, “This is our fifth fatal crash in just four months, which is far too many for our city. We will continue our education campaign on traffic safety, as well as increase proactive traffic enforcement. Too many people are losing their lives due to impairment and/or distracted driving. We have to do better. We need to do better.”