By CALEB FREY

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A 78-year-old Reserve man was identified Friday as the victim of a recent three-car fatality accident.

Louisiana State Police investigated the scene of a three-car accident Thursday afternoon that left an elderly man fatally injured and three others with minor injuries.

Willie Sanders, 78, of Reserve, was traveling westbound on LA 44, according to State Trooper Joseph Piglia, when for an unknown reason he crossed the center line of the two lane road, striking a 2005 Ford Focus driven by Mary Mamou, 47, of Reserve.

After striking the Ford, Sanders’ Mitsubishi began to spin and also hit a 1997 Dodge Stratus being driven by Latoya Nicholson, 32, of Reserve.

State troopers arrived on the scene at 2:50 p.m. where they found Sanders had suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Sanders was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and speed is also suspected as a factor in the accident, according to State Police.

Driver impairment has also not been ruled out as a factor in the crash.

Mamou and two passengers in her car at the time of the collision were transported to River Parish Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.

The accident is still under investigation by State Trooper Greg Marchand.