| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 2132 | 2016-01-18 | Troop C | Unrestrained Passenger Killed on US 90 in Terrebonne Parish |
| TROOP C - NEWS RELEASE January 18, 2016 Unrestrained Passenger Killed on US 90 in Terrebonne Parish Chacahoula, LA- Shortly before 2 pm this afternoon, a 39 year old Lafayette man was killed after the vehicle he was riding in overturned on US 90 in Terrebonne Parish. The investigation revealed that a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban was traveling west on US 90, near LA 20, in Terrebonne Parish. The Suburban was being driven by Mario Villafuerte, (age 44) of Opelousas, LA. The Suburban was traveling in the right lane of US 90 approaching a slower moving vehicle, when for unknown reasons, the Suburban turned sharply to avoid striking the vehicle in the rear. The Suburban lost control and overturned several times. Villafuerte, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. The rear passenger in the Suburban, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the Suburban during the crash. The rear passenger was transported to University Hospital in New Orleans where he passed away from his injuries sustained in the crash. The identity of the passenger will be withheld until proper notification can be made to his family. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the crash. Blood was taken from Villafuerte and the test results will be pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. This crash remains under investigation. While not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease an occupant’s chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury. Louisiana law requires every vehicle occupant, front seat and back seat, to be properly restrained day or night. Taking the time to buckle up every trip and every time is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. | |||
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