By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A Gretna man was arrested Sunday after causing a fatal two-car accident in LaPlace.

Jose Maldonado, 22, 2116 Belle Chase Hwy., was arrested by St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s deputies and charged with the negligent homicide of 29-year-old Michael Flores.

Maj. Mike Tregre, spokesperson for St. John Sheriff’s office, said Maldonado also was charged with failure to yield, driving without a license and driving without insurance. He said Maldonado was booked into Sherman Walker Correctional Facility, and is being held on a $20,000 bond.

According to Louisiana State Police, the accident occurred near the intersection of Airline Highway and Cambridge Drive around 5:30 p.m. Sunday when Maldonado’s 1992 Honda Accord collided with a 1996 Ford F-150 driven by Anthony Genera, 68, LaPlace.

State police said the Accord entered Airline from a private driveway, crossed the northbound lanes, and entered southbound traffic. Upon entering the southbound lanes, the Honda crossed the path of the F-150 traveling in the right lane. The truck struck the passenger side of the Honda where Flores was sitting.

St. John Sheriff’s deputies said Flores was airlifted to East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators do not believe Maldonado was impaired at the time of the accident, but do know that neither Maldonado, nor Flores was wearing seatbelts.

State police are still investigating the incident and had no further information to provide.