Louisiana State Police investigators are looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-12 that killed two people and injured a third early this morning.
The crash happened shortly before 4 a.m. Friday south of Robert near LA 445. The wreck killed 21-year-old Chandler Garcia and 23-year-old John Russo Jr., both of Bay St. Louis.
Trooper William Huggins says investigators have learned that Russo was driving a Ford F-150 east-bound on I-12 when he encountered an unknown vehicle ahead of them, traveling in the same direction.
"For reasons still under investigation, the Ford struck the rear of the unknown vehicle," said Huggins. "After initial impact, the Ford traveled off of the road to the right before overturning. The unknown vehicle fled the scene."
Huggins says all occupants of the Ford were not wearing seat belts. Garcia and Russo were pronounced dead on the scene. A third occupant of the pickup was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.
Toxicology samples on Russo are pending.
LSP asks anyone with any information regarding this crash please contact Louisiana State Police Troop L at (985) 893-6250, or their local law enforcement agency.
