| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1023 | 2012-10-13 | Troop A | Unrestrained Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash, Impairment Suspected |
TROOP A – NEWS RELEASE October 13, 2012 Unrestrained Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash, Impairment Suspected Port Vincent – Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated a single-vehicle fatal crash last night in Livingston Parish. The crash, which claimed the life of the unrestrained driver, occurred on LA 42 south of Watts Road shortly after midnight. Troopers remained on the scene for several hours investigating the crash and clearing the scene. Troopers’ preliminary investigation revealed that William Stewart (W/M, age 50) of Port Allen was driving a 2007 Ford Fusion east on LA 42 at Pleasant Hill when he entered a slight right-hand curve. The vehicle crossed over the westbound lane and ran off the improved shoulder into the gravel alongside the edge of the roadway. The vehicle began to rotate clockwise, came back onto the roadway as it rotated, crossed both lanes again, and ran off the road to the right. The vehicle then struck an embankment and vaulted into the air, coming to rest on its roof. Stewart was NOT wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was partially ejected. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Livingston Parish Coroner’s Office. Troopers suspect impairment to have been a factor in the crash and have submitted a sample of Stewart’s blood to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for Chemical Analysis. The crash remains under investigation. Last year, nearly half of the fatal crashes across the state involved an impaired driver. There is NEVER a good reason to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking alcohol. Troopers will continue the fight against impaired driving through a committed program combining education and enforcement across the state. Troopers will continue to aggressively enforce Louisiana’s DWI laws in an effort to get impaired drivers off our roadways before they injure or kill innocent citizens or themselves. The poor decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle impaired leads to tragic outcomes too often, and Troopers are asking for the motoring public to partner with them to fight this problem. The public can great assist in ridding our roadways of impaired drivers and ensuring safer driving conditions by following a few simple suggestions: 1. NEVER drive impaired (even a small amount of alcohol causes impairment). 2. NEVER get into a vehicle with an impaired driver. 3. NEVER allow an impaired person to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. 4. ALWAYS wear a seat belt, regardless of seating position. 5. Report impaired, aggressive, or sleepy drivers and roadway hazards to law enforcement immediately by dialing *LSP (*577) from a cellular phone. Contact Information: TFC Russell G. Graham II | |||
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