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Source: http://lsp.org/news_detail.html?id=2303

id cleanReleaseDate troopName title
2303 2014-11-03 Troop C Four Year Old Child Killed in Single Vehicle Assumption Parish Crash

TROOP C - NEWS RELEASE
November 3, 2014

Four Year Old Child Killed in Single Vehicle Assumption Parish Crash

Paincourtville, LA- Shortly after 9:00 pm yesterday evening, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop C began investigating a single vehicle crash that killed a four year old boy on LA 308 in Assumption Parish.

The investigation revealed that a 2013 Mazda 2 was traveling north on LA 308, south of the LA Spur 70, around box number 5286 in Assumption Parish. The Mazda was being driven by Toniska Willoughby (B/F age 22) of Napoleonville, LA. For unknown reasons, the Mazda traveled off the road to the right where it entered a ditch and struck a culvert. The driver was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with moderate injuries. Seat belt use for the driver is still unclear at this time. As a result of the crash, Cason Willoughby (B/M age 4), who was the son of Toniska Willoughby and the front seat passenger, was pronounced dead on the scene by the Assumption Parish Coroner’s Office. The four year old was not properly restrained at the time of the crash and was only utilizing the lap portion of the seat belt.

Impairment on the part of the driver is unknown at this time. Blood was taken from the driver and the test results will be pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. This crash remains under investigation.


Unintentional injuries, specifically motor vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of death for children. Child passengers are safest in the rear seat of the vehicle and should remain in the rear seat until at a minimum 12 years old. Regardless of seating position, every passenger in the vehicle, front seat and back seat, are required by law to properly wear a seat belt at all times. Child safety seats including booster seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash. When properly installed and used, child seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for children younger than one and by 54 percent for children between 1 and 4 years old. With an estimated misuse rate of 3 out of 4 seats, parents and caregivers are urged to take advantage of checkup events to have child restraints in their vehicle checked free of charge. 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
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop C
Office- (985) 857-3680
Cell- (985) 855-0241
Evan.Harrell@la.gov
www.LSP.org
www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice
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