By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Louisiana State Police are investigating a four-vehicle crash on I-55 Sunday in St. John Parish that left one man dead and three others injured, said a spokesman for state police.

Senior Trooper Joseph Piglia, public information officer for LSP, said 43-year-old Martin Davidson of Kenner was pronounced dead on the scene from injuries suffered in the crash. Piglia said Davidson was pulled from the Nissan Pathfinder he was driving by numerous bystanders, because it had become engulfed in flames after being hit.

According to State Police, the accident happened around 8:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-55 when a 2007 Toyota, driven by Alex George, 45, of Buras, slammed into the rear of the Pathfinder, which was stopped in traffic that stemmed from an earlier accident further down I-55.

After being hit by the Toyota, Davidson’s Pathfinder was forced into the rear of a 2004 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Tiffany Montleone, 19, of Covington, which then slammed into a 1998 Ford Expedition, driven by David Pittman of Hammond. All four vehicles were in the left lane of the interstate.

Piglia said George’s Toyota also caught fire as a result of the accident. He was pulled from the wrecked vehicle and air lifted to North Oaks Hospital in Hammond, where he is listed in stable condition.

Others injured in the accident included Davidson’s wife Irina, who was transported to River Parishes Hospital and listed in stable condition; and Montleone, who is listed in good condition at River Parishes Hospital. There is no further information available on Pittman, the fourth victim in the accident.

Speed and driver impairment on the part of George are suspected factors in the cause of the accident, Piglia said. Results of a toxicology exam are still pending.