A Slidell man is facing hit-and-run charges after he fled from one crash as St. Tammany Sheriff’s deputies were pulling up, and ultimately caused a second crash.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday two deputies with the STPSO Traffic Division were driving on U.S. Highway 190 when they observed two vehicles on the side of the roadway near Louis Prima Drive. One of the motorists appeared to be irate, and the two vehicles appeared to have just been involved in some sort of minor crash.
As the deputies pulled up to assist, one of the vehicles, a Mitsubishi Galant, drove off. The deputies began to follow the Mitsubishi northbound on Highway 190. The vehicle turned onto Crestwood Boulevard, driving at a high rate of speed, and ultimately crashed and flipped into a culvert near the end of Crestwood Boulevard.
Fire District personnel were called to the scene to extricate the driver of the Mitsubishi, Griffin Batiste, from the vehicle. He was transported to a local area hospital to be treated for the injuries he sustained in the crash.
He will be charged with Hit and Run, Aggravated Flight from and Officer, and more.
