By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

PARADIS – An early morning three-vehicle wreck on US 90 in Paradis Thursday claimed the life of a Metairie man, said a spokesman for Louisiana State Police.

Senior Trooper Joseph Piglia said 45-year-old Steven C. Crochet was killed when his 2004 Dodge pickup swerved into oncoming traffic and struck two other vehicles.

The incident happened around 7:50 a.m. Thursday on US 90 near LA Hwy. 306, which is also known as Bayou Gauche Road in St. Charles Parish.

According to a report from State Police, Crochet was traveling eastbound on US 90 when he suddenly lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median and entered the westbound lanes of traffic. Once entering the westbound lanes, Crochet’s truck struck the left rear panel of a 2006 Ford van driven by Anthony Hoofkin, 44, of New Orleans, before slamming head-on into a 2005 Ford F-350 driven by Taylor Sydnor, 26, of Amherst, Va. Sydnor’s truck was traveling in the right lane of US 90 westbound.

Crochet suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Piglia said Hoofkin suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention, but said that Sydnor and a passenger in his vehicle, 26-year-old Cash Unruh, were transported to St. Charles Hospital with moderate injuries. Their status is not known at this time.

Piglia aid the crash is still under investigation and it is not known whether driver impairment played a role in the accident. He said a toxicology report is pending.

The accident snarled traffic on both sides of US 90 for several hours while troopers investigated the incident.