| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 3763 | 2015-11-06 | Troop E | **UPDATE**Three Unrestrained Vidalia Residents Killed in Crash |
TROOP E NEWS RELEASE November 6, 2015 **UPDATE**Three Unrestrained Vidalia Residents Killed in Crash **Today, Troopers charged Gordon with vehicular homicide (3 counts), vehicular negligent injuring, and reckless operation. He was booked into the Concordia Parish Detention Center. See below for the original release from October 1, 2015. Concordia Parish – Earlier today, a crash involving two vehicles killed three people that were not wearing their seat belt. Two of the three were teenagers from Vidalia, LA. Troopers responded to the crash around 4:35 p.m., which occurred on US Hwy 84 east of LA Hwy 565. The crash involved a 1998 Peterbilt (18 wheeler – loaded log truck), driven by Mark I. Gordon (W/M 28 yrs) of Jonesville, LA and a 2001 Dodge pickup, driven by Richard L. Stewart Jr. (W/M 49 yrs). The Peterbilt was westbound on US Hwy 84 when Gordon lost control and crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane. The Dodge, which was eastbound on US Hwy 84, took evasive action by steering right onto the eastbound shoulder. Despite Stewart Jr’s efforts, the Peterbilt collided with the Dodge. Gordon was not injured. Stewart Jr. was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected. He was pronounced dead. Two of his passengers, identified as Vera C. Stewart (W/F 17 yrs) and George Stewart (W/M 15 yrs) were not wearing their seat belt and were ejected. They were pronounced dead. Shelia D. Smith (51 yrs) of Vidalia was also a passenger in Stewart Jr’s vehicle. She was wearing her seat belt and received moderate injuries. Smith was transported to Rapides Regional Trauma Center. Routine toxicology tests and charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation. Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to “buckle up!” Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes. Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers would like to remind the public of the following: inattentive and distracted driving is dangerous and is a leading cause of crashes in our state. It is important for motorists to pay attention to what is going on outside of the vehicle they are driving. More information on distracted driving may be found online at the federal government’s official distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov. Troop E Troopers have investigated 33 fatal crashes in 2015, resulting in 40 fatalities. Contact Information: M/T Daniel “Scott” Moreau Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section – Troop E Office: (318) 769-9USA (872) scott.moreau@la.gov www.LSP.org www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice | |||
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