On Friday at approximately 1:05 p.m., troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a fatal head-on crash on Louisiana Highway 21 just north of Louisiana Highway 1084, near Waldheim in St. Tammany Parish. The crash claimed the life of Judith F. Jenkins, 71, of Bogalusa, according to Trooper Dustin Dwight.

The initial on-scene investigation led troopers to determine that the crash occurred as Bryant Scott Tanner, 28, of Ponchatoula, was driving a 2007 Mitsubishi pickup southbound on Highway 21 approaching a curve, which banked to the right. As Tanner’s vehicle exited the curve, it crossed the center line into the northbound lane and crashed head-on into a 2008 Honda CRV driven by Jenkins, Dwight said.

Despite being properly restrained, Jenkins sustained fatal injuries in the crash. She was pronounced deceased on-scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. Tanner also sustained severe injuries in the crash. He was transported to North Oaks Health Systems by Acadian Air-Med in critical condition.

Dwight said that the investigation is on-going, and any criminal or traffic charges will be forwarded to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office for prosecution pending the completion of the investigation.