By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

DESTREHAN — A 24-year-old Destrehan man was killed in an accident on Interstate 55 on Sunday after his vehicle burst into flames.

At around 4:30 a.m., a 2004 Ford Truck registered to Master Vac Hydro Services LLC, driven by Carl Howard, 44 of Kentwood was traveling south on I-55, along with Brandon McKnight’s 1992 Mazda 929.

Howard’s vehicle stuck McKnight’s in the rear bumper and caused McKnight’s vehicle to veer to the right.

After McKnight’s vehicle veered right it “traveled back across the southbound lanes and struck the left bridge rail before coming to rest in the middle of both southbound lanes and bursting into flames. The driver was burned beyond recognition and pronounced dead by the Tangipahoa Parish Assistant Coroner Bankston,” according to the LSP Troop L Sgt. Emery Tumulty.

Howard sustained minor injuries, and was transported to Southeastern University’s Police Department where he was given a breath test, but the results indicated alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Howard began having chest pains while at the police department. Acadian Ambulance transported him to North Oaks Hospital in Hammond, according to the incident report.

After Howard was released from the hospital, he was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail for careless operation and negligent homicide.