LAPLACE – The life of a 40-year-old Garyville woman was claimed during a vehicle accident early Wednesday morning on Airline Highway.

According to a report by a Louisiana State Police representative, Troop B responded to the crash Wednesday morning at 4:40 a.m. on U.S. Highway 61 south at Louisiana Highway 637. Rebranda Steib was pronounced dead on the scene after being struck by a tractor trailer.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Steib was exiting a private parking lot in a 2001 Ford Mustang and was attempting to cross the southbound lanes of U.S. 61. She entered into the path of a 2004 International tanker, driven by Michael Payne, 48, of Amite, in the right lane of U.S. 61 south. The Mustang was struck on the driver’s side, and Steib suffered fatal injuries.

Driver impairment is not suspected for Payne and toxicology results are pending an autopsy for Steib. The crash remains under investigation.