One driver died and two people were taken to hospitals after a Chevrolet Tahoe and Chrysler 300 collided at Chef Menteur Highway and Flake Avenue in New Orleans East on September 19, 2026, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
NOPD’s preliminary account says the Tahoe was turning right from Flake Avenue while the Chrysler traveled west in the left lane of Chef Menteur Highway. After the vehicles collided, the Chrysler left the road and struck a tree.
The Chrysler Driver Died at the Scene
Police responded at approximately 7:04 p.m. The Chrysler’s driver was pronounced dead. A passenger in the Chrysler and the Tahoe’s driver were taken to local hospitals; NOPD did not report their conditions or identify anyone involved.
A WGNO report republished by AOL repeated NOPD’s two-vehicle account. A FOX 8 video headline referred to three vehicles, but did not identify a third vehicle or explain its involvement. Until police clarify that discrepancy, the official two-vehicle description is the more reliable account.
The Tahoe’s Turning Path Is the Starting Point
The short release does not explain which lane the Tahoe entered, where the first impact occurred, or how far apart the vehicles were when the turn began. Those facts will determine whether the turn could be made safely and whether either driver had a reasonable chance to avoid the crash.
Louisiana Revised Statute 32:104 generally requires a driver to make a turn only when it can be completed with reasonable safety and to give the required signal. The statute may be relevant, but the release does not establish a violation.
Damage to the Tahoe and Chrysler can help locate the contact between them. Scene measurements and roadway marks may show the Chrysler’s path from the first impact to the tree. If a signal controlled the intersection, its timing and the drivers’ approach also matter.
The Chrysler Passenger’s Position Is Legally Different
The passenger did not control either vehicle. Any injury claim should be evaluated separately from the conduct of both drivers. Depending on the final facts, the passenger may have claims involving one or both liability policies and potentially uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
For the driver who died, Louisiana’s wrongful-death and survival-action provisions may be relevant if another person’s fault caused the collision. The identity of the driver, beneficiaries and insurers was not included in the sources reviewed.
Preserve Both Vehicles and Any Intersection Video
The NOPD item number, vehicle storage locations and any available intersection or business video should be obtained promptly. Both vehicles should be preserved before repair or disposal. The injured people should also keep complete treatment and insurance records.
For help evaluating a fatal turning collision or an injured passenger’s insurance options, contact Babcock Injury Lawyers.
Sources
- NOPD: Traffic fatality at Chef Menteur Highway and Flake Avenue
- WGNO via AOL: One dead following New Orleans crash
- FOX 8 video report
- La. R.S. 32:104: Turning movements
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.1
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.2
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
This article is based on NOPD’s preliminary release and the linked reports. NOPD identified two vehicles; a FOX 8 headline referred to three without identifying another vehicle. The people involved, their conditions, the precise impact location and any final findings were not established in the sources reviewed. This article is general information, not advice about a particular claim.