| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6590 | 2015-05-27 | Statewide | Statewide Click It or Ticket Campaign Remains in Effect Following Memorial Day Weekend Crashes |
HEADQUARTERS - NEWS RELEASE May 26, 2015 Statewide Click It or Ticket Campaign Remains in Effect Following Memorial Day Weekend Crashes Mandeville, LA – This afternoon at Louisiana State Police Troop L, Troopers were joined by local medical professionals and law enforcement colleagues from across the Troop L region to announce their continued participation in the annual Click It or Ticket campaign in effect through Sunday, May 31st. Representatives from St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Covington Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Fire District #4, and the University Medical Center in New Orleans were also present to emphasize the benefits of proper restraint use, the dangers of impaired driving, and the importance of good decisions behind the wheel. During the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, Louisiana State Police investigated 7 fatal crashes resulting in 7 deaths across the state. Last year State Police worked 5 fatal crashes resulting in 6 deaths over the 2014 Memorial Day weekend. Unrestrained occupants accounted for 5 of the 7 highly preventable deaths this holiday weekend. Throughout the weekend, Troopers also arrested 90 suspected impaired drivers potentially preventing even more serious injury or fatal crashes. Impaired driving continues to be a major threat on our roadways and presents a danger to both motorists and those investigating the crashes. Yesterday morning, a Troop D Trooper experienced this firsthand as an impaired driver struck the rear of his unit while working a crash on I-10 near Sulphur, LA. The crash resulted injuries to both the Trooper and another individual. The following is short synopsis of each fatal crash investigated by LSP over the 2015 Memorial Day weekend: Troop A (Baton Rouge): A single vehicle crash on LA 61 in Ascension Parish resulted in one death. This crashed occurred when a vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert. As the vehicle began to roll, the passenger was partially ejected. The passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead on the scene. Impairment is suspected in the crash. Troop B (New Orleans): NONE Troop C (Houma): NONE Troop D (Lake Charles): NONE Troop E (Alexandria): A single vehicle crash on US 84 in Concordia Parish resulted in one death. This crash involved a vehicle that traveled off the roadway and struck a tree. The driver, who was unrestrained, was pronounced dead on the scene. Impairment is unknown at this time. Troop F (Monroe): A two vehicle crash on LA 587 in West Carroll Parish resulted in one death after a farm tractor and a vehicle collided at an intersection. The vehicle began to pass the tractor as it was making a left turn at an intersection. Upon being struck, the tractor traveled off the road and struck a tree. The driver of the tractor was not restrained and was ejected. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Troop G (Shreveport): NONE Troop I (Lafayette): Troop I investigated four fatality crashes over the holiday weekend. A single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on US 167 resulted in one death in St. Landry Parish. The pedestrian walked into the path of an oncoming vehicle as he attempted to cross the road. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Impairment is unknown at this time. A second single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on I-10 resulted in one death in St. Martin Parish. The pedestrian walked into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead on the scene and impairment is unknown at this time. A third single vehicle crash on the I-10 service road in Acadia Parish resulted in one death. The crash occurred as the vehicle traveled off the road and struck a ditch embankment. The passenger in the vehicle was not restrained and was pronounced dead on the scene. Impairment was a factor in the crash. A three vehicle crash on US 90 in Iberia Parish resulted in one death. The crash occurred as a vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction on US 90. The vehicle struck another vehicle head-on killing one driver. The other driver was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital. A third vehicle was damaged by flying debris. Impairment is suspected to be a factor in the crash. Troop L (Mandeville): NONE Troopers and local first responders witness firsthand the devastating effects that driving while impaired and lack of proper seat belt use have on drivers and passengers across the state each day. In addition to placing themselves in danger, a driver’s poor decisions while behind the wheel often have far reaching consequences affecting too often innocent victims. 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 never driving a vehicle while impaired or riding with an impaired driver is crucial to avoiding the often life changing consequences of being involved in a serious motor vehicle crash. Motorists that witness hazardous situations are urged to call *LSP (*577) and report that activity to the Louisiana State Police. Contact Information: Sgt. Nick Manale Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Nicholas.Manale@la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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