Aggrostats

November 9, 2008

Louisiana State Police – Troop I is currently investigating three separate Fatal Crashes within the Acadiana area.

For the past two weekends in a row, state troopers across the state have been investigating numerous fatal crashes. The latest of the deadly crashes in Acadiana occurred shortly after midnight Saturday morning, when fifty-eight year old Billy Ernest of Denham Springs, La, was traveling south on I-49, approximately thirteen miles north of Opelousas, La. Ernest was transporting a tanker, carrying hot crude asphalt when he sideswiped a 2001 Isuzu SUV, that was also traveling south on I-49. Ernest then lost control of the eighteen-wheeler and traveled off the right side of I-49 where the eighteen-wheeler overturned. The St. Landry Parish Coroners Office pronounced Ernest dead at the scene. The driver of the Isuzu SUV, fifty-two year old Cynthia Courville of Carencro, La and a passenger fifty-eight year old Joseph Courville of Carencro, La, were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were not injured. Courville, submitted to a chemical test and had no (BAC) Blood Alcohol Content. Chemical test were sent to LSP Crime lab for Billy Ernest.

This is the fifty-eight fatal crash and the sixty-fourth fatality Troop I has investigated thus far in 2008

The second fatal crash occurred at around 4:30 am on Saturday morning, when forty-four year old Arthur Driskill of Kaplan, La was traveling northbound on La 35 approaching the town of Kaplan, when for unknown reasons; Driskill drove off the roadway to the right in a left curve. The vehicle traveled through the ditch, struck a stop sign and struck a utility pole where it came to rest. Driskill was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, by Vermilion Parish Deputy Coroner Myriam Hutchinson. Alcohol is not suspected, however, narcotics were located at the scene.

This is the fifty-ninth fatal crash and the sixty-fifth fatality Troop I has investigated thus far in 2008.

The latest fatal crash happened around 6:00 pm on Saturday afternoon on US 90, within Iberia Parish.

Sixty-six year old Wenceslaus Provost of New Iberia, La, was operating a 2001 Ford F-350, eastbound on US 90 in the right travel lane. For unknown reasons, Provost drove off right side of the improved portion of the roadway onto the grass embankment. The vehicle then moved left rotating counter clockwise where it began to roll. Provost was ejected and came to rest on the improved shoulder east of the vehicle’s final rest. Provost was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

This is the sixtieth fatal crash and the sixty-sixth fatality Troop I has investigated thus far in 2008.