Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / July 1, 1998

NORCO – A LaPlace man was charged Saturday night with two counts of negligent homicide following a double-fatality accident on Airline Highway.

Louisiana State Police Troop B spokesman Kevin Cannatella said Greg Matthew Carter, 20, 112 Bedford St., LaPlace, was also charged withcareless operation of a motor vehicle, driving under suspension and no auto liability insurance.

An upgrade to vehicular homicide is possible, pending the results of a blood-alcohol test, Cannatella added.

Derold F. Raines, 42, and Karen W. Freeman, 46, both of 1004 River Road,Reserve, died as a result of the accident, which took place Saturday at 9 p.m.According to the accident report, Raines and Freeman were on the side of Airline Highway near the intersection with Louisiana Highway 627 in Norco, putting gasoline in their 1998 Honda Shadow.

A 1990 Ford Mustang driven by Carter veered off the road onto the right shoulder and struck the two people and the motorcycle, killing them on impact.

Additionally, the Ford struck a 1987 Toyota pickup truck parked nearby.

The driver of the truck had stopped to help the pair get gas for their motorcycle.

The driver of the Toyota, Raymond A. Horrocks, 28, of Metairie, sustainedminor injuries as he stood outside the truck at the time of the accident.

His passenger, Erin Horrocks of Metairie, likewise received minor injuries as she sat in the truck.

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