| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1175 | 2011-06-18 | Troop A | CORRECTION - Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP A - NEWS RELEASE Unrestrained Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash Correction (June 18, 2011) - Donald Vallet, Jr WAS properly restrained when the crash occurred. Troopers originally reported that he was unrestrained in error. West Baton Rouge – Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated a fatal crash on Interstate 10 in West Baton Rouge Parish last night that claimed the life of a Port Allen man. The crash occurred on I-10 westbound near milepost 142 at approximately 10:15 pm. Troopers were assisted by deputies from the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office at the scene of the crash. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2003 Ford Pickup, being driven by Donald Vallet, Jr (W/M, age 31) of Port Allen, was traveling west on Interstate 10 when it ran off the roadway to the left. The pickup continued through a heavily wooded area, overturned, and caught fire. Firefighters and first responders quickly put the fire out, but Vallet had already sustained fatal injuries from the crash. Troopers do not suspect impairment to have played a factor in the crash. Vallet was not restrained when the crash occurred. Chemical analysis of Vallet’s blood is pending with the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office. Troop A has investigated twenty-six fatal crashes that have claimed thirty lives so far this year. Of the thirty people killed, over TWENTY were not properly restrained at the time of their deaths. Troopers would like to remind everyone to wear a seat belt EVERY time they get into a vehicle, regardless of the length of the trip and regardless of seating position. An overwhelming majority (nearly 70%) of people killed so far this year were unrestrained. There is NO good reason not to wear a seat belt. The three seconds it takes to buckle up could mean the difference between life and death. People are taking to the highways with summer in full swing, and safety should be a top priority as families load into their vehicles. State law requires that everyone in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, remain buckled up while on the road. Small children must be restrained in a child safety seat appropriately fit for their age, weight, and height. Troop A serves as a Child Passenger Safety fitting station every Tuesday from 9:00 am until 3:30 pm. You can also see the Louisiana Child Passenger Safety law posted at www.lsp.org/troopachildsafety.html BUCKLE UP…SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES!!!
| |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||