Karen Padilla, a 29-year-old textiles, apparel and merchandising major, died in a car crash Tuesday morning on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish almost 25 miles from Baton Rouge.
According to Louisiana State Police, Padilla was driving eastbound on I-10 in her Nissan Sentra Tuesday morning when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed the median.
Padilla was struck on the front driver side by a tractor-trailer. This collision pushed the car into the right lane where it was struck on the passenger side by a garbage truck.
Padilla sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Padilla had a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Delgado University in New Orleans. She was attending LSU to get a degree in fashion design.
“The most important thing in her life was school,” said her brother, Lester Padilla.
Padilla’s family emigrated from Nicaragua when Karen was 9 years old.
Lester Padilla said his sister was planning to move to New York this summer to pursue her career.
He said his sister had breakfast with her family Tuesday morning and went to school — but never made it home.
Rachel Haley, a fashion design junior who had class with Padilla, said her professor told the class about the accident this morning.
“When our teacher told us about it, it made me sick,” Haley said.
Haley said that despite their competitive major, Padilla had always seemed sweet and quiet.
“She was just such a nice person, and fashion can be so catty,” Haley said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, Michael D. Mathews, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Our Lady of the Lake hospital.
The driver of the garbage truck, Milton Smith, was not injured and refused medical help.
State police do not suspect alcohol played a role in the accident.