GRAMERCY — A deadly three-vehicle crash overnight in St. James Parish claimed the life of a New Orleans man, authorities said.

Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating the wreck on Interstate 10 near Louisiana 641 in Gramercy shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

The crash took the life of 56-year-old Kenneth C. Nolting of New Orleans, authorities said.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed the crash occurred as Nolting was driving a 1996 Nissan Altima eastbound on I-10, Louisiana State Police spokesman Jared L. Sandifer said.

At the same time, 26-year-old Blerond Oda of Merrillville, Ind., was driving a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta and 43-year-old James Spears of Baton Rouge was driving a 2014 International box truck westbound on I-10.

“For unknown reasons, the Altima ran off the roadway to the left into the median and struck the median cable barrier,” Sandifer said. “The Altima rode the cable barrier for approximately one half mile before reaching an opening, where it then traveled out of the median and into the westbound lanes of travel.”

The Altima struck the westbound Jetta, authorities said, causing the Altima to rotate into the path of the International box truck. Nolting was properly restrained, but suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash, Sandifer said.

Oda was properly restrained and taken to Interim LSU Hospital in New Orleans with moderate-to-serious injuries. Spears was properly restrained and uninjured in the crash.

“Driver impairment on the part of Nolting is unknown at this time, and a toxicology sample was taken from him and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis,” Sandifer said. “Impairment on the part of Oda and Spears is not suspected.”

The wreck was the second fatal crash State Police worked in St. James Parish in less than a week.

A Gonzales man was killed Wednesday during a single-vehicle wreck.

In that wreck, Troopers worked the crash shortly after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday that occurred on Airline Highway in St. James Parish.

The crash took the life of 53-year-old Bobby L. Garantine of Gonzales.