By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A Gretna man was booked Wednesday with negligent homicide in connection with a fatal accident on Interstate 10 in St. John Parish in April.

Aeham H. Hamad, 22, was also charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle in the crash that killed Joel R. Redenius, 39, of Rockford, Ill., said Trooper Melissa Matey, a Louisiana State Police spokeswoman. Hamad is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace.

The crash happened April 9 just after 10 p.m. at mile marker 211, which is an elevated portion of I-10 through St. John. Hamad was behind the wheel of a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria when it struck the back of Redenius’ 1998 Ford Explorer causing it to flip several times and fall off the elevated roadway into a wooded area.

According to a State Police release, Redenius was traveling east on I-10 in the left lane at the posted speed limit at the time of the crash. Hamad, also traveling eastbound, was speeding in the right lane when he switched lanes and ran into Redenius’ Explorer. Redenius lost control of his vehicle and crashed.

Redenius was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hamad suffered moderate injuries.