| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8565 | 2011-11-04 | Troop L | Impairment suspected in Early Morning Fatal Crash |
| TROOP L NEWS RELEASE November 4th, 2011 Impairment suspected in Early Morning Fatal Crash Tangipahoa Parish, LA- Shortly after 7:00 am this morning, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a single vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 55 approximately 3 miles north of the LA 40 / Independence exit in Tangipahoa Parish. Preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred as a 1995 Ford Ranger, driven by Letcher Winston (B/M age 21) of Amite, LA, was traveling north on I-55 when it began to drift off the left side of the roadway into the grass median. Upon entering the median, Winston overcorrected back to the right causing the Ford pickup truck to rotate clockwise as it reentered the paved roadway and crossed both northbound lanes of the interstate. As the pickup crossed the northbound lanes, it overturned and rolled several times before impacting a tree along the right side of Interstate 55. Winston, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office. Drug impairment is suspected to be a factor in the crash with the results of a toxicology exam pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Whether impaired through alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two, the consequences of driving while impaired remain the same. Driver impairment and lack of seat belt use continues to be contributing factors in a large majority of fatal crashes across the nation and our state. By taking precautionary steps including never driving while distracted or impaired and always wearing a seatbelt, motorists can substantially reduce their risk of being involved and/or injured in a crash. Contact Information: TFC Nick Manale Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Unit Troop L Office: (985) 893-6250 Ext:628 Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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