Tow truck plows into pedestrians; 3 dead

NEW ORLEANS — Police were investigating a fatal crash involving a tow truck that left three people dead Sunday afternoon in Mid-City.

The wreck happened just before 5 p.m. CT at the intersection of Tulane and South Carrollton avenues.

Authorities said a tow truck was traveling southbound on Tulane Avenue when it left the roadway, hitting four pedestrians. Then the tow truck drove through a fence into the parking lot of the Mid-City Shopping Center, hitting numerous parked vehicles, police said.

Two of the pedestrians hit by the truck were pronounced dead at the scene. A third pedestrian died at a nearby hospital.

The fourth pedestrian and the tow truck driver were also brought to an area hospital by ambulance.

The investigation is ongoing.

Follow WWL-TV on Twitter: @WWLTV