PORT BARRE, La. (KLFY) — A woman is in critical condition and her unborn baby was killed in a crash with a semi-truck in St. Landry Parish Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Louisiana State Police began investigating a two-vehicle crash just before 8 a.m. Tuesday on US 190 at its intersection with La. 743, between Opelousas and Port Barre. The crash claimed the life of an unborn child.     

Investigators said a 2022 Freightliner 18-wheeler, driven by Albert Jenkins, 51, of Lafayette, was traveling south on La. 743. At the same time, a 2024 KIA Seltos was traveling west in the right lane of US 190. For reasons still under investigation, the Freightliner failed to yield at a stop sign and turned left onto US 190, crossing into the path of the approaching KIA. As a result, the KIA collided with the rear of the Freightliner’s trailer. 

The unidentified driver of the KIA, who was pregnant at the time of the crash, sustained critical injuries. After being taken to a local hospital, it was learned that the unborn child died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Jenkins was uninjured.  

A toxicology sample was obtained from Jenkins and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.  

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