| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 2284 | 2014-08-20 | Troop C | Unrestrained Teens Ejected During Lafourche Parish Crash |
TROOP C - NEWS RELEASE August 20, 2014 Unrestrained Teens Ejected During Lafourche Parish Crash Thibodaux, LA- Shortly after 07:00 am this morning, a 16 year old was killed and two other teens were injured when the vehicle they were riding in traveled off the road and overturned after striking another vehicle in Lafourche Parish. The investigation revealed that a 2003 Toyota Tundra was traveling west on Laural Valley Road just west of LA 308 in Thibodaux, LA. The Tundra, which was being driven by a 16 year old from Thibodaux, LA, was attempting to overtake a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado that was also traveling west on Laural Valley Road. Before safely, and completely passing the Silverado, the Tundra attempted to change back into the westbound lane of Laural Valley Road at a high rate of speed. In the process, the right rear fender of the Tundra struck the left front of the Silverado. After the impact, the driver of the Tundra lost control of the vehicle and traveled off the right side of the road where the vehicle struck an embankment. The embankment caused the Tundra to become airborne and travel over 100 feet in the air before striking the ground and rolling over onto its passenger side twice. The driver and front seat passenger in the Tundra, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. The driver of the Tundra was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. The front seat passenger of the Tundra, who was identified as Adrian Ledet (age 16) of Thibodaux, LA, was pronounced dead on the scene by the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office. The back seat passenger in the Tundra, who was wearing a seat belt, was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. After the initial impact with the Tundra, the Silverado traveled off the right side of the road where it came to rest in a ditch. The driver of the Silverado, who was wearing a seat belt, was identified as Christopher Cortez (age 17) of Thibodaux, LA, and was not injured in the crash. The two other passengers in the Silverado, who were wearing seat belts, were also not injured in the crash. High speeds are suspected to be a factor in the crash. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash. Blood was taken from the driver of the Toyota Tundra and the test results will be pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Cortez submitted to a breath test and was cleared of any alcohol involvement. 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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