LEONARD GRAY

LULING – Newborn Matthew Hattala, who lost his mother in a three-vehicle accident on River Road April 26, remains at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, trying to recover from his injuries enough to go home. Two people died as a result of the accident on River Road at Martin Drive in Luling. The child, son of Christopher and Dawn Hattala, of 25 Walnut Place in Luling, was on his way home from Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, where he was born on April 24. Louisiana State Police Troop B spokesman Omar Landrum said Matthew is reported in good condition, but new X-rays indicted the legs were not healing properly, and the child will remain in the hospital for an additional week. Matthew had been properly placed in a child seat at the time of the accident, Landrum added after a thorough investigation. Christopher Hattala, 30, remains in stable condition at St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, and is expected to be released tomorrow. Albert L. Carpenter, 54, of 220 Sako Drive, Raceland, was driving a green 1996 Dodge Ram pickup westbound on River Road at 8:08 p.m. He missed the curve just upriver from the chemical plant’s main gate, over-corrected, and slammed into two succeeding eastbound cars. Louisiana State Police Trooper John Neal reported Carpenter’s truck first struck the blue 1990 Honda Accord driven by Christopher Hattala, with a side-swiping impact. Passengers in the Honda were his wife, Dawn, 24, and their infant son, Matthew. Carpenter’s truck then slammed head-on into the red 1994 Chevrolet pickup driven by Roy A. Madere Jr., of 109 Bernard Ave., Ama. Carpenter’s truck then rolled halfway over and partially threw him from the vehicle. Carpenter was pronounced dead at the scene. Dawn Hattala, taken to St. Charles Parish Hospital in critical condition, died early Friday. Madere was charged with DWI, and was not the cause of the accident.