| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 2723 | 2008-11-01 | Troop C | Chain of Crashes Totaling Seven Vehicles Kills Napoleonville Man on LA 308 |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP C- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: November 1, 2008 Chain of Crashes Totaling Seven Vehicles Kills Napoleonville Man on LA 308 Napoleonville- On Saturday, November 1, 2008, at approximately 7:30 AM, a Napoleonville man died after being involved in a chain of three crashes totaling seven vehicles on LA 308 in Assumption Parish. Visibility became a factor in an area on LA 308 between LA 1014 and LA 400 when a mixture of fog and smoke from the surrounding cane fields were being burned. Visibility in the area had been reduced to approximately two feet on LA 308. The first crash involved a Peterbilt Tractor-Trailer, driven by Joseph Rogers; a Toyota Scion, driven by Leah Aucoin; and a GMC Sierra, driven by Cody Theriot. Roger’s vehicle was struck in the rear by Aucoin’s vehicle, who was then struck in the rear by Theriot’s vehicle. All three drivers got out of their vehicles and were off the roadway when the second crash happened. The second crash occurred minutes after the first. A GMC Yukon, driven by Terry Trahan, was behind the first crashed vehicles when the Yukon was struck in the rear by a 2008 Peterbilt tanker trailer, driven by John Gremillion (B/M, 34 of Lottie, LA). Gremillion’s tanker pushed the Yukon into the first crashed vehicles. The Yukon had four other passengers: Jody Trahan, Roger Dehart, Octavia Dehart, and Laura Duplantis. The third crash occurred when Gremillion’s tanker vehicle, with Gremillion still inside, was struck in the rear by a 2007 Nissan Frontier, driven by John Achee Sr. (W/M, 48, of Napoleonville, LA). Moments after Achee’s vehicle struck the Gremillion’s vehicle, a 1991 International dump truck, driven by Tommy Blanchard (W/M, 21, of Labadieville, LA), struck the rear of Achee’s vehicle. Blanchard’s dump truck was not carrying a load at the time of the crash. All vehicles involved in this chain of crashes were traveling north on LA 308.Blanchard received minor injuries in the crash, but refused treatment. Gremillion was not injured. Blanchard and Gremillion were wearing seat belts. Achee sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Assumption Parish Coroner's Office. Seat belt use by Achee is unknown at this time. Blanchard and Gremillion both submitted to voluntary breath tests for alcohol. Results indicated no alcohol from either driver. Alcohol is not suspected on the part of Achee, but analysis is pending. TFC Tim Naquin is continuing his investigation. Contact Information: TFC Gilbert Dardar Jr. Public Information Officer Louisiana State Police - Troop C Office: (985) 857-3683 Gilbert.Dardar@dps.la.gov WWW.LSP.ORG | |||
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