Varghese Paily Dies in Louisiana Crash

A Port Arthur man involved in a two-vehicle accident on I-10 west of Sulphur has died Monday morning.

The incident occurred before 10 a.m. near mile marker 17 when a 1999 Jeep heading east on Interstate 10 moved from the middle lane to the outside lane to pass an 18-wheeler.

The driver, Varghese K. Paily, 52, of Port Arthur, Texas, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to rotate and hit the rear of a 2001 Ford pick-up truck that was parked on the right shoulder, the Louisiana State Police said.

Paily and the driver of the pickup, Richard D. Schneider, 63, of Waveland, Mississippi, were both taken to a nearby hospital.

Paily was later pronounced dead from his injuries.

Both men were wearing a seat belt, authorities said.

Routine toxicology samples were obtained from the drivers and will be submitted for analysis.

It was raining at the time of the crash and authorities said speed and weather conditions may be factors in the wreck.

The fatal accident remains under investigation.