Friday night, shortly before 11:00 p.m., Troopers from State Police Troop L began investigating a two-vehicle crash on I-12 near LA Hwy 434 in St. Tammany Parish.
The crash claimed the life of 16 YO Christian Tullis of Slidell.
Pope John Paul II High School officials confirmed the teenager killed in the crash was a student at the Slidell school. Tullis was the son of PJP Head Volleyball Coach Danny Tullis and brother of senior student Alli Tullis, who competed in the volleyball state championship on Saturday.
The initial investigation revealed the crash occurred as Tullis was eastbound on I-12 in a 2010 Nissan Titan. At the same time, a 2021 Freightliner 18-wheeler was also eastbound on Interstate 12 in front of the Nissan. For reasons still under investigation, the Nissan struck the rear of the Freightliner’s trailer.
Despite Tullis being properly restrained, he sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Crisis counselors will be on campus this week at PJP to speak with students, and the school community will host a school-wide prayer service.
