Nationwide — Ka’Sheena Daniels, a 31-year-old African American woman from New Orleans, Louisiana, sadly died after stopping on Interstate 10 to help a driver trapped inside a flipped car. She had been traveling with friends when they came across the crash and pulled over to help. Daniels recognized the trapped driver as her neighbor and helped get her out before another vehicle struck a car that had stopped at the scene.
The crash happened Sept. 25 on westbound I-10 near Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans. According to WLBT, police said a speeding driver made a sudden lane change and flipped a car, leaving the driver trapped inside. Several motorists stopped after seeing the wreck and began helping. Daniels was among them, but the situation quickly turned into another crash.
Franchon Williams, who was with Daniels that night, said Daniels and the others rushed to help the trapped driver. Williams said Daniels recognized the woman as a neighbor and helped pull her from the flipped vehicle. Shortly afterward, another vehicle hit one of the cars that had stopped nearby. The collision sent that vehicle toward the group of people gathered around the crash.
Several people were injured in the second crash, but Daniels was the only person who died. Williams said the group could not find Daniels immediately after the collision. They searched around the vehicles before learning that someone had gone over the side of the interstate. Daniels had fallen from the roadway and was found below. Her mother, O’Sheenana Daniels, helped authorities locate her daughter after calling out her name and hearing her respond.
Daniels was born and raised in New Orleans and had recently turned 31. She was raising her adopted son, Noah, while working in accounting. Her mother remembered her as someone who was always willing to help others when she could. Daniels had also planned to begin paramedic school with Williams the following week. Williams said she intends to continue with that plan in memory of her friend.
New Orleans police said the investigation remains ongoing. Daniels’ family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for her funeral expenses. It has so far raised over $5,200. Daniels’ death followed what began as an attempt to help another driver after a serious interstate crash.