Jose Luis Martinez II and Ashley Garza die in fatal Ascension Parish car crash
Fatal Ascension Parish car crash death of Jose Luis Martinez II and Ashley Garza – Obituary
Jose Luis Martinez II, 32, and Ashley Garza, 32, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, were killed in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on the evening of February 1, 2026. Louisiana State Police said the collision occurred just before 8:30 p.m. near milepost 179 westbound.
According to investigators, a 2022 Toyota RAV4 was traveling west in the left lane when it struck the rear of an unoccupied 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe belonging to the Gonzales Police Department. The marked police vehicle was stopped in the left lane with emergency lights activated while officers handled a separate crash.
Martinez, who was seated in the rear left passenger seat and wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Garza, seated in the rear right passenger seat and also properly restrained, suffered critical injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where she later died.
The driver and front-seat passenger of the Toyota were wearing seat belts and sustained moderate injuries, officials said. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
State police noted that impairment has not yet been determined, though routine toxicology testing will be conducted. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Troopers also reminded motorists of Louisiana’s move-over law, urging drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching emergency vehicles stopped on the roadway.