Slidell woman dies in I-12 accident

A 30-year-old Slidell woman died Tuesday morning in a two-car accident on Interstate 12 near Lacombe, State Police said.

Kelly Morris was pronounced dead at the Louisiana Heart Hospital where she was transported for treatment, State Police Troop L spokesman Louis Calato said.

At 7:47 a.m. Morris was traveling in the westbound left lane near Louisiana 434 in a 2002 Mazda four-door when, for unknown reasons, she veered left partially going off the roadway and overcompensated to the right. In the process, she hit a 2008 Nissan Altima in the right lane driven by Stephen Craver, 36, of Slidell.

After impact, both vehicles veered off the roadway. Morris struck two pine trees on her driver’s side door, and then smacked a third tree with her rear bumper.

Craver was not injured in the crash. A chemical breath test revealed he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol. Morris is also not suspected of drinking and driving.

Both Craver and Morris were wearing their seatbelts, State Police said in a press release. The collision caused traffic delays miles long.