| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1892 | 2009-01-17 | Troop B | ***Update*** Impaired Driver Sends 30 Students to a St. Charles Parish Hospital |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP B- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: January 16, 2009 ***Update*** Impaired Driver Sends 30 Students to a St. Charles Parish Hospital The driver of the Suzuki passenger car, Richard T. Laurent, who was still incarcerated, was re-booked with Vehicular Homicide along with the aforementioned charges at the St. Charles Parish Lock-up. Impaired Driver Sends 30 Students to a St. Charles Parish Hospital On Friday, January 16, 2009 shortly after 3:00 PM, Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on U.S. 90 near I-310 in Hahnville involving a school bus. The school bus was struck after the impaired driver of a Suzuki passenger vehicle traveling westbound on U.S. 90 struck the rear of a Toyota SUV which was also traveling west on U.S. 90. The SUV then crossed the median of U.S. 90 and entered the eastbound lanes where it struck a St. Charles Parish School bus. The school bus was carrying 30 students from Hahnville High School. After the impact with the SUV, the school bus traveled off the right side of the roadway and entered a drainage ditch. The crash involved a 2007 Suzuki driven by Richard T. Laurent (W/M, 45 yrs) of Harvey, LA, a 1997 Toyota 4Runner driven by Paula Nazio (W/F, 40 yrs) of Paradis, LA and a St. Charles Parish School bus driven by Earl Tastet (W/M, 71 yrs) of Luling, LA. As a result of the crash the drivers of the school bus, the SUV and passenger car, along with three students were transported to St. Charles Parish Hospital by ambulance. The other 27 student were transferred to another school bus and brought to St. Charles Parish Hospital where they were examined, treated and released. The driver of the Toyota, Nazio suffered serious injuries and was admitted to St. Charles Parish Hospital Intensive Care Unit. The driver of the school bus, Tastet was treated and released with moderate injuries. The driver of the Suzuki, Laurent was treated for minor injuries, released and arrested. Laurent was booked at the St. Charles Lock-up with Driving While Impaired, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, 1 count of 1st degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring and 31 counts of Vehicular Negligent Injuring. Trooper David Easley is continuing his investigation. For more information contact: S/T Joseph Piglia Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop B Office: (504) 471-2780 joseph.piglia@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||