| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 4875 | 2015-09-27 | Troop F | Impairment Leads to Death and Injury in Ouachita Parish Crash |
TROOP F NEWS RELEASE September 27, 2015 Impairment Leads to Death and Injury in Ouachita Parish Crash Monroe, LA – Late last night, two people died and one was seriously injured due to a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Interstate 20. Shortly before 11:15 p.m., on September 26, 2015, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Interstate 20 just east of Monroe. The preliminary investigation revealed a 2010 Toyota pickup, driven by 41-year-old Jorge Benavides of Oxford, MS, was traveling west on I-20 in the eastbound lanes of travel. A 2009 Ford Mustang, driven by 20-year-old Thomas Williams of Delhi, LA was traveling east on I-20 when it was struck head-on by Benavides. Williams, as well as a passenger in the Mustang, 19-year-old Jamerro May of Monroe, LA were pronounced dead at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office. Another passenger in the Mustang was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Williams, May, and the other passenger of the vehicle were not wearing their seat belt at the time of this crash. Alcohol use on the part of Benavides is suspected to be a factor in this crash. Upon release from the hospital, he will be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, no drivers’ license, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and one count of vehicular negligent injury. This crash remains under investigation. Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists of the importance of seat belt use. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a violent crash rise significantly when properly restrained Louisiana law requires that every person in a motor vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. In 2015, Troop F has investigated 38 fatal crashes resulting in 41 deaths. Contact Information: S/T Michael Reichardt Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Office: (318) 345-2810 michael.reichardt@la.gov www.LSP.org www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||