TROOP A NEWS RELEASE
June 14, 2014
Driver Arrested for Negligent Homicide After Car Travels Over Side of Bridge Iberville Parish – Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop A are investigating a fatal crash on I-10 which claimed the life of a Florida woman after the vehicle she was riding in traveled over the side of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.
At 8:12 p.m. last night, 24 year old Lois Rudd of Largo, FL, was driving a 2002 Dodge Durango west on Interstate 10 near milepost 132 on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. For reasons still under investigation, Rudd’s vehicle veered left and struck the south guardrail. Rudd overcorrected causing her vehicle to roll onto its side and strike the north guardrail where it traveled over the side of the bridge. With the assistance of several responding agencies, the occupants of the vehicle were rescued and taken to waiting ambulances.
Rudd had six people in the vehicle with her. One of the passengers in the vehicle, 25 year old Mina Bell of St. Petersburg, FL, was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner’s office. There were also five children in the vehicle ranging in ages from 5 weeks old to 9 years old. A 7 year old child sustained severe injuries, all of the others sustained moderate injuries and were taken to local hospitals. Troopers are still investigating to determine who was restrained.
After being treated for injuries at Baton Rouge General Hospital on Bluebonnet, Troopers will book Rudd into the Iberville Parish Jail for 5 counts of negligent injury, negligent homicide and careless operation. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers remind drivers and occupants that while not all crashes are survivable, properly wearing a seat belt can minimize the risk of injury in most crashes. Seat belts are designed to spread the crash forces across the body, and keep the occupant in the vehicle allowing them to ride down the crash. Troopers remind drivers and occupants that state law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be properly restrained. Contact Information:
TFC Jared L. Sandifer
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop A
Office: (225) 754-8524
jared.sandifer@la.gov
www.LSP.org
www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice
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