/ L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

LAPLACE – Two drivers died early Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle accident on Airline Highway in LaPlace.

Louisiana State Trooper Caesar Taylor reported that Dale F. Nelson Jr., 55,152 W. First St., Reserve, was northbound on Airline, approaching BellePoint Boulevard at 1 a.m.Shirley Sanders, 47, 8897 Richmond Drive, Apt. C, LaPlace, was crossingthe northbound lanes, turning south, as she headed for her night-shift job at Wal-mart.

As she crossed the northbound lanes, the left rear of her 1998 four-door Chevrolet Celebrity was struck by Taylor’s 1992 Oldsmobile Ciera.

The impact, according to Taylor’s report, caused the Chevrolet to be “ripped apart” and spun around counter-clockwise, which threw Sanders from the vehicle. onto the roadway. Nelson’s car overturned and ended upin the southbound lanes.

Alcohol is suspected as a contributing cause of the accident, as Nelson had a history of driving while intoxicated. In addition, at the time of theaccident, Nelson’s speedometer jammed at 80 mph.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene by St. John Parish Coroner Dr.Christy Montegut, and transported to the Jefferson Parish morgue.

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