Slidell, La.- Police say a 53-year-old Slidell woman died late Friday night after her car was struck head-on by a freight train.
The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Front Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Witnesses tell police that the driver, identified as Jamii Pizzitolo of Slidell, made a left turn onto the railroad tracks for unknown reasons and a southbound train
struck the vehicle head on.
Police say Pizzitolo had to be extricated from the
vehicle and was air lifted to University Hospital where she later died from
her injuries.
In addition, Slidell Police received a 911 call Friday evening about a possible drunk driver who
was driving a gold Oldsmobile Alero, which is the same vehicle Pizzitolo was driving at the time of the crash.
Slidell Police searched for the vehicle, but were unable to locate it. About an hour later, the fatal crash
occurred.
Police determined that Pizzitolo's vehicle was the same vehicle they were searching
for earlier in the night.
Impairment is suspected to be a contributing
factor in the crash and toxicology tests are currently pending.
The crash remains under investigation.
(Slidell Police Dept.)
