By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

ST. ROSE — A Kenner teenager died in an accident early on the morning of Sept. 23, when the car he was driving submerged into the canal alongside Airline Highway near Interstate 310.

The accident victim was recently identified as William Nelson, 16, whose body was discovered 30 hours after the accident occurred.

Louisiana State Police reported the accident involved a 2005 Mazda, reported stolen during Hurricane Katrina from Hertz Car Rental in New Orleans.

There were three occupants in the Mazda, headed eastbound on Airline at 2:20 a.m.

Two passengers, Kwanaa Collins, 23, and a 16-year-old girl, both of Kenner, managed to escape from the rapidly-sinking vehicle, but Nelson failed to escape and drowned.

The passengers told police of the missing driver, and the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office Marine Division submerged the canal with no results, being unable to locate the driver or the vehicle in the deep water.

His remains were discovered later, near the vehicle.

Witnesses to the accident claimed the vehicle had been speeding and driving erratically prior to the wreck.

The survivors said everyone had been wearing seat belts.

The crash is still under investigation by Trooper First Class Alan Rickmeier.