| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 128 | 2017-02-26 | Troop A | Second Impaired Driving Crash in Less than 12 Hours Kills 1 and Injures 8 |
| TROOP A NEWS RELEASE February 26, 2017 Second Impaired Driving Crash in Less than 12 Hours Kills 1 and Injures 8 Grosse Tete, LA – Shortly after 7:00 am on February 26, 2017, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating a two vehicle fatality crash on Interstate 10 westbound east of LA 77 in West Baton Rouge Parish. The crash took the life of 34 year old Tranisha King of Del City, OK and resulted in the arrest of 33 year old Kevin Dickens of Del City, OK. The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as Dickens was traveling westbound on Interstate 10 in a reckless manner. At the same time, 32 year old Victor Martinez of Grovetown, GA was traveling westbound on Interstate 10 ahead of Dickens. Dickens attempted to pass Martinez but his 2007 Lexus E35 struck the rear of Martinez’s 2003 Mercury Mountaineer. The impact caused Dickens’ vehicle to travel into the median and Martinez’s vehicle to run off the right side of the roadway. Both vehicles overturned multiple times after the leaving the road. King was a passenger in Dickens’ vehicle and sustained serious injuries in the crash. She was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased by medical personnel. Dickens was also injured and transported to a local hospital. Martinez and his six passengers were injured in the crash and transported to local hospitals as well. Three of those passengers were children that were not properly restrained and ejected from the vehicle. Dickens was impaired at the time of the crash and was placed under arrest by Troopers. Upon his release from the hospital, Dickens will be booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail for Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Negligent Injuring, and Reckless Operation. Toxicology samples will be taken from both drivers for analysis. This is the second fatal crash investigated by Troop A in less than 12 hours involving impaired drivers. Whether impaired through alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two, the consequences of driving while impaired remain the same. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as never driving while impaired, always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, and avoiding all distractions can often mean the difference between life and death.
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