| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8678 | 2011-05-06 | Troop L | Unrestrained Child seriously injured in Washington Parish Crash |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release May 6th, 2011 Unrestrained Child seriously injured in Washington Parish Crash Yesterday evening at 06:50 pm, Louisiana State Police Troop L investigated a one vehicle serious injury crash on LA 436 approximately three miles north of Bogalusa in Washington Parish. Preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred as a 2008 Nissan Altima, driven by Tina Vargus (W/F age 29) of Angie, LA, was traveling east on LA 436 when it entered a left hand curve in the roadway. Vargus failed to negotiate the curve and began to run off road to the right when she overcorrected back to the left causing the Altima to rotate counterclockwise. As the vehicle continued to rotate, it crossed both lanes of LA 436 before running off road to the left and impacting a utility pole on its front passenger door. After impact, the Altima overturned and came to rest upside down in the ditch on the left side of the roadway. Both Vargus and her two year old daughter were unrestrained at the time of the crash. The two year old passenger, who was in neither a proper child safety seat nor the vehicle seatbelt, sustained serious injuries in the crash and was transported to the LSU Bogalusa Medical Center. The two year old was later transferred to University Hospital in New Orleans where she remains in critical condition. Vargus received minor injuries in the crash. Motor vehicle Alcohol and/or drug use is not suspected with the results of a toxicology test pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Vargus was booked into the Washington Parish Jail charged with Careless Operation, No Seatbelt, No Child Restraint, and Negligent Injury. crashes are the leading cause of death and serious injury for children in the United States. Many injuries and deaths can be prevented by properly using child safety seats. Louisiana State Law requires the driver of a motor vehicle to ensure that EVERY child under the age of thirteen is properly secured, regardless of seating position, in the vehicle. Until a child is six years old AND weighs at least sixty pounds, that child is required by law to be restrained in a proper child restraint system. It is the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to ensure that the children under their care are as safe as they can possibly be at all times. While riding in a motor vehicle, the best way to do this is to ensure the child is properly restrained in a child restraint system. Louisiana State Police Troop L serves as a grant-funded Child Passenger Safety fitting station every Wednesday from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm (excluding holidays). Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are available to inspect and to assist with installation of child safety seats at that time. In addition, CPS Technicians are available upon request to perform inspections at daycare centers, schools, and various community events. To schedule an appointment or arrange for a check up event please contact Trooper Nick Manale at 985-893-6250 ext. 628 or at Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov. Contact Information: TFC Nick Manale Public Affairs Unit Troop L Louisiana State Police Office: (985) 893-6250 Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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