Shortly before midnight Friday, Slidell Police responded to a report of a vehicle that crashed into the St. Tammany Federal Credit Union at 550 Pontchartrain Drive. When officers arrived, they observed a 2018 Ford F-250 which crashed through the entire building in one side and out the other. The driver of the vehicle, 44-year-old, William Mancuso, of Slidell, was not properly restrained and sustained fatal injuries during the crash.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Mancuso was traveling north on Pontchartrain Drive, at a high rate of speed. For unknown reasons, Mancuso failed to navigate a curve in the road, and continued straight into the building. Speed and impairment are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash. Toxicology results are pending.
Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said this was the fifth fatal crash in just four months, which is far too many for the city. He said they will continue their education campaign on traffic safety, as well as increase proactive traffic enforcement.
Due to the financial building being severely compromised, Slidell Police provided a paid security detail for the St. Tammany Federal Credit Union until the building could be properly secured.
