Late Sunday evening on February 1, 2026, a tragic traffic collision occurred on Interstate 10 westbound in Ascension Parish, near the Gonzales/Burnside exit, resulting in the deaths of two Ohio residents.
According to Louisiana State Police, shortly before 8:30 p.m., a 2022 Toyota RAV4 was traveling west in the left lane of I‑10 when it struck the rear of a marked Gonzales Police Department vehicle that had its emergency lights activated but was unoccupied. The police vehicle was positioned in that lane because officers were investigating a separate crashat the time.
The force of the impact was severe. Both Jose Luis Martinez II, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ashley Garza, 32, also from Cincinnati, were seated in the rear of the SUV. Martinez was pronounced dead Garza, who initially survived the crash, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, but she ultimately died from these injuries.
Investigators reported that all occupants of the RAV4, including Martinez and Garza, were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
State Police troopers responded to the scene, along with emergency crews, to secure the area, render aid, and begin an investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly identified a definitive cause for the crash beyond the RAV4’s impact with the police vehicle. It remains under active investigation by the Louisiana State Police Troop A.
Officials noted that toxicology and other routine tests would be conducted as part of that investigation, but they have not indicated whether impairment or other factors played a role.
Because the investigation is ongoing, law enforcement has not yet released further details such as speed, weather conditions, or witness accounts beyond what was initially reported.
While this crash took place in Louisiana, both victims were from Cincinnati, Ohio, suggesting they may have been traveling through the region possibly returning from or heading to a destination along I‑10, a major interstate corridor.
The loss of life has been noted in local news coverage, and the tragedy underscores the risks associated with highway travel, especially at night and in areas where emergency vehicles are stopped.
This kind of collision where a moving vehicle strikes a parked emergency vehicle has been a concern for traffic safety officials nationwide, as emergency scenes on highways can pose significant hazards if approaching drivers are not aware or cannot stop in time.
