Franklin man arrested after crash that snarled U.S. 90 traffic

A 51-year-old Franklin man was charged with hit and run and negligent injuring Wednesday, accused of fleeing from U.S. 90 in Berwick after he crashed into a pickup truck causing it to flip several times. The crash seriously injured a 70-year-old Charenton man, Berwick Police Chief James Richard said.
Police received a call at 2:53 p.m. Wednesday reporting a hit and run on U.S. 90 at the Hollywood Truck Plaza during which a vehicle had flipped, Richard said. A 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by David McDonald, 51, of Franklin, was leaving the Hollywood Truck Plaza crossing U.S. 90 west when he struck a 2014 Ford pickup driven by Irving Gasper Jr., 70, of Charenton, causing it to flip several times, Richard said.
Following the crash, McDonald fled the area, Richard said. While officers were working the scene of the crash, McDonald drove back to the truck stop, was apprehended and charged at 4:04 p.m. with driving while intoxicated second offense after refusing the breath test, Richard said. McDonald was also charged with hit and run driving, careless operation of a motor vehicle with a crash and first degree vehicular negligent injuring, Richard said.
Gasper was transported with serious injuries to Teche Regional Medical Center by Acadian Ambulance, the chief said. Gasper was treated and released from the hospital Wednesday, Teche Regional Medical Center Spokeswoman Sabrina Roy said.
Traffic on westbound U.S. 90 was backed up in both lanes to the Morgan City bridge and beyond until about 4 p.m.
No other occupants were in either vehicle, Richard said. Traffic was backed up on U.S. 90 for at least two hours as a result of the crash, Richard said.
Just prior to the crash on U.S. 90, McDonald caused a wreck in the Hollywood Truck Plaza parking lot, striking a state department of transportation vehicle, Richard said. No one sustained injuries in that crash, Richard said.
McDonald was jailed with no bail set yet.
This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.