By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A Garyville man who was a passenger in a car involved in an accident Thursday in St. Bernard Parish died of his injuries Saturday.

John Ebanks Jr., 43, died at Interim LSU Public Hospital, where he was taken following Thursday’s accident, according to State Police. A release from State Police stated the accident happened about 2:10 a.m. near the intersection of East St. Bernard Highway and Livaccari Drive.

According to the release, Ebanks was a passenger in a 2004 GMC Sierra driven by Michael H. Demelio, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y. The vehicle was traveling on East St. Bernard Highway when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle swerved into the right shoulder to pass a vehicle. After pulling off to the shoulder, Demelio’s vehicle veered off the road slightly and struck a roadside tree.

Demelio suffered minor injuries in the crash, but Ebanks was critically injured and transported to the hospital, police said.

State Police said neither Demelio nor Ebanks were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the accident, and blood test results from the State Police Crime Lab in Baton Rouge are pending.

Demelio was booked with DWI and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Further charges against Demelio are pending the outcome of the investigation and test results.