| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8660 | 2012-01-30 | Troop L | I-12 Fatal Crash takes Life of Ponchatoula Teen |
| TROOP L NEWS RELEASE January 30th, 2012 I-12 Fatal Crash takes Life of Ponchatoula Teen St. Tammany Parish, LA – This evening shortly after 8:00pm, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a single vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 12 approximately one mile east of the St. Tammany / Tangipahoa parish line. The crash took the life of the 17 year old driver, Kristina Barnard of Ponchatoula, LA, and resulted in moderate injuries for the two additional teen occupants. Troopers’ investigation revealed that the crash occurred as Barnard was driving a 2003 Ford Focus westbound on Interstate 12 when it began to drift off road to the left. As the left side tires of the Focus drifted off the roadway, Barnard overcorrected to the right causing the vehicle to rotate clockwise and cross both westbound lanes before running off road to the right. Upon leaving the paved roadway, the Ford Focus entered the tree line on the north side of the interstate and impacted a large tree on its driver’s side door. Barnard received fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. The two passengers in the Ford Focus, 18 year old Sasha Stell and another 16 year old female, were transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital and Lakeview Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. All three occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were from the Ponchatoula area. Alcohol and/or drug impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash with toxicology results pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Over the past four days, troopers have investigated three fatality crashes resulting in four deaths where driver inattention played a factor in the crash. While the dangers of impaired driving and other aggressive driving behaviors are well documented, driver distraction is quickly becoming one of the largest contributing factors in motor vehicle crashes across the country. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. While distracted driving comes in many forms, from texting and talking on a cell phone, to eating, or simply playing with the radio, the result is often the same. Troopers urge the public to remain vigilant while driving and avoid distracting activities, especially electronic devices. To report distracted drivers or other hazardous road conditions, motorists can dial *LSP (*577) from your cellular phone to reach the State Police office closest to you. 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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