| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 696 | 2009-04-04 | Troop A | Unrestrained Driver Killed, Deputy Injured in Head-On Collision |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP A - NEWS RELEASE Unrestrained Driver Killed, Deputy Injured in Head-On Collision BATON ROUGE – A head-on collision involving an East Feliciana Sheriff’s Deputy last night resulted in the death of a Clinton man and serious injury of the deputy. At approximately 10:00 p.m. on LA 67, Marques L. Blakes (B/M, age 57) of Clinton was driving a 1994 Ford pickup north on LA 67 when he came upon a 2005 Dodge pickup that had stopped, preparing to turn left into a private drive. Blakes applied the brakes, began to skid, and veered left into the southbound lane. As the Ford pickup crossed the centerline and entered the southbound lane, its front left struck the front left of a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria, being driven by Deputy Richard J. Styles, Jr. (W/M, age 37) of Baker. The Crown Victoria, an East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol unit, was traveling south on LA 67. After the initial collision, the Ford pickup rotated counterclockwise and its rear bumper struck the left side of the Dodge pickup, which was still stopped on LA 67, facing north. Acadian Ambulance transported Blakes to Layne Memorial Hospital, where hospital staff pronounced him deceased due to his injuries. Acadian also transported Deputy Styles to Layne Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries. Neither Blakes nor Styles were wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. The driver of the Dodge Pickup, Clifford F. Starks, Sr. (W/M, age 64) of Slaughter and his son, Clifford F. Starks, Jr. (W/M, age 44) of Slaughter were both wearing seatbelts and neither sustained any injuries in the crash. Alcohol use by Blakes is unknown at this time, but Troopers have submitted a sample of his blood to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for Chemical Analysis.
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