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HAMMOND, La. — A road rage incident in Tangipahoa Parish Sunday left a pregnant 17-year-old in critical condition and resulted in the arrest of a 54-year-old man. The teen’s baby, delivered via emergency C-section, is reportedly doing well.
Sheriff Gerald Sticker called the incident a “senseless tragedy” and pleaded for drivers to exercise patience and caution on the road.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. Sunday near Ponchatoula, approximately 50 miles north of New Orleans.
According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO), the 17-year-old victim was a passenger in a Ford Expedition traveling with two other individuals. They encountered Barry West, driving a silver Dodge truck, and the two vehicles reportedly engaged in aggressive driving behaviors, including tailgating and brake-checking.
The TPSO investigation concluded that West fired a single shot into the Expedition, striking the victim in the head. The driver of the Expedition immediately called 911 and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital. The baby was subsequently delivered via emergency C-section.
West, who claimed he believed the occupants of the Expedition had shot at him first, was arrested and booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail. He faces four counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of illegal use of a weapon, and obstruction of justice. The TPSO confirmed that no shots were fired from the victim’s vehicle and no weapon was found inside.
The victim remains in critical condition. The TPSO stated that charges against West could be upgraded if her condition deteriorates.