| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8769 | 2010-12-05 | Troop L | I-10 Crash Kills a Slidell Resident |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L- NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Date: December 5, 2010 I-10 Crash Kills a Slidell Resident St. Tammany Parish – Yesterday evening, at approximately 7:40 PM, Louisiana State Police Troop L was notified of a fatal crash on the I-10 west on-ramp from I-12 east. Preliminary investigation revealed a 1999 Kia, driven by Eric Harrison (B/M, age 49) of Slidell, LA, was stopped on the right shoulder of the I-10 west on-ramp from I-12 with a flat tire. Harrison had exited his vehicle and was standing near the trunk area when, for unknown reasons, a 1999 Ford F-250 truck traveling west on the I-10 on ramp and driven by Desiree Lafleur (W/F, age 27) of Metairie, LA, drove onto the right shoulder and struck Harrison and the 1999 Kia. Harrison was pronounced dead on the scene and Lafleur sustained minor injuries. Several passengers in both vehicles also sustained injuries. Susie Singletary (W/F, age 43) of Slidell, LA, a passenger in the 1999 Kia sustained severe injuries. Patrick Stogner (W/M, age 38) and his son (age 3) were passengers in the 1999 Ford F-250. Stogner sustained minor injuries and his son sustained moderate injuries. The 3-year-old was improperly restrained in a child safety seat. None of the passengers and drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. All injured persons were taken to Slidell Memorial Hospital for treatment. Lafleur is suspected to have been under the influence of illegal substances and a blood test is pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Lafleur was arrested and charged with Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Negligent Injuring, DWI with Child Endangerment and Careless Operation. She was booked at the St. Tammany Parish Jail in Covington, LA. Louisiana State Law requires the driver of a motor vehicle to ensure that EVERY child under the age of thirteen years in a motor vehicle equipped with safety belts 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. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children in the United States. Many injuries and deaths can be prevented by properly using car seats. It is the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to ensure that the children under their care are as safe as can possibly be at all times. While riding in a motor vehicle, the only 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. More information regarding child passenger safety can be found at http://www.lahighwaysafety.org/child.html. Buckle Up!! Seatbelts Save Lives!! For more information contact: Trooper Melissa Matey Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop B Office: (504) 471-2780 melissa.matey@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||