TROOP C - NEWS RELEASE
August 2, 2014
Troop C Investigates Two Fatality Crashes This Morning in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish
Gray, LA- Shortly before 5 am this morning a bicyclist was struck and killed in a hit-&-run crash on LA 24 in Terrebonne Parish.
The investigation revealed that a white male on a bicycle was traveling north on LA 24 near Mobile Estates in Gray, LA. The bicycle was traveling in the inside lane of LA 24 near the white fog line when it was struck from the rear by a 2007 Kia Sedona traveling north on LA 24 in the inside lane. The Kia was being driven by Grant Luke (W/M age 29) of Houma, LA. After the initial impact, the bicyclist was ejected into the windshield of the Kia and then onto the shoulder of the roadway. The Kia fled the scene of the crash, but Luke was later located and placed under arrest after an attempted suicide at his residence. The bicyclist, who remains unidentified, was pronounced dead on the scene by the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office. It is unknown if Luke was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but he was not injured in the crash. The bicycle involved in the crash did not have any kind of illuminated devices on the bicycle, but was traveling in a straight away with street lights.
Luke submitted to a breath test after his arrest and was above the legal limit of .08g%. Alcohol use is unknown at this time and routine toxicology tests are pending for the bicyclist. This crash remains under investigation.
Luke was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex where he was booked. Luke was charged with Vehicular Homicide, 2nd Offense DWI, Felony Hit and Run and Careless Operation.
Thibodaux, LA- Shortly before 8 am this morning, a 20 year old Kenner man was killed when his vehicle traveled off the road in Lafourche Parish.
The investigation revealed that a 2000 Ford Expedition was traveling north on LA 308 about a mile and a half south of the Lafourche Crossing in Thibodaux, LA. The Expedition was being driven by Chase Reynolds, (W/M age 20) of Kenner, LA. The Expedition entered a left hand curve in the road, and for unknown reasons, it traveled off the right side of the road where it entered a ditch and struck a culvert. When the Expedition struck the culvert, it caused the vehicle to roll over and ejected the driver. Reynolds, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead on the scene by the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office.
Impairment is unknown at this time and routine toxicology tests are pending. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving. While there have been fewer deaths associated with impaired driving in recent years, there is still much room for improvement. 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.
Motorists that witness hazardous situations are urged to call *LSP (*577) and report that activity to the Louisiana State Police.
Contact Information:
Tfc. Evan Harrell
Public Information Officer
Louisiana State Police – Troop C
Office- (985) 857-3680
Cell- (985) 855-0241
Evan.Harrell@dps.la.gov
www.LSP.org
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