| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 566 | 2018-05-23 | Troop A | Troop A Investigates Second Fatal Crash of the Day Involving Unrestrained Occupant |
| TROOP A NEWS RELEASE May 23, 2018 Troop A Investigates Second Fatal Crash of the Day Involving Unrestrained Occupant Baton Rouge – Shortly before 7:00 pm on May 23, 2018, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating a two vehicle fatality crash on LA 3246 (Siegen Ln.) north of Interstate 10 in East Baton Rouge Parish. The crash took the life of 82-year-old Carolyn Ozment of Dyersburg, TN. The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 51-year-old Blake Starkey of Springfield was traveling northbound on LA 3246 in a 2011 Dodge Ram. At the same time, 62-year-old Cheryl Patterson of Arlington, TX was traveling southbound on LA 3246 in a 2015 Chevrolet Cruz. For reasons still under investigation, Starkey crossed the two-way left turn lane into the southbound lanes of LA 3246 and struck Patterson’s vehicle head-on. Ozment was a passenger in Patterson’s vehicle. Ozment was unrestrained and sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. She was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased. Patterson was properly restrained and sustained moderate injuries. Starkey was unrestrained and sustained serious injuries. Impairment is suspected on the part of Starkey, but a toxicology sample will be taken from both drivers for analysis. This crash remains under investigation and charges are pending. This is the second fatal crash investigated by Troop A within a five hour span, both involving unrestrained occupants. This crash marks the eighth unrestrained death in the month of May investigated by Troop A.
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