| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 912 | 2008-11-02 | Troop A | Two Fatal Crashes Early Sunday Morning in Troop A |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP A- NEWS RELEASE Two Fatal Crashes Early Sunday Morning in Troop A BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated two separate fatal crashes in the Troop A area early Sunday morning. In both instances, the deceased passengers were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. At 2:08 a.m., Troop A investigated a two-vehicle head-on collision in Livingston Parish on LA 16 south of LA 63. A 2005 Mazda 626 was traveling north on LA 16 when it crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane. It collided head-on with a 2007 Jeep Cherokee, being driven by Sherie E. Giuliante (W/F, age 26) of Denham Springs. Ms. Giuliante and her 2 year old passenger were both properly restrained and were seriously injured as a result of the crash. They were both transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital by Acadian Ambulance. After the collision, the Mazda came to rest on the roadway and caught fire. The driver of the Mazda, who has not yet been positively identified, was not wearing a seatbelt and died as a result of injuries caused by the crash. Alcohol is suspected to have been a factor in this crash and blood has been taken and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. At 4:27 a.m., Troop A investigated another fatal crash involving one vehicle on Interstate 10 Westbound west of LA 73 in Ascension Parish. Jarwaynus P. Francois (B/M, age 19) of Lake Charles was driving a 2005 GMC Yukon west on Interstate 10 when he ran off the road to the left. Francois steered sharply to the right and the vehicle began to rotate as it crossed both westbound lanes of Interstate 10. The vehicle rolled over and came to rest in the ditch along the right side of the roadway. Francois and his front-seat passenger, Anita Sutton (B/F, age 19) of Lake Charles, both sustained minor to moderate injuries as a result of the crash. Francois was wearing a seatbelt, but Sutton was not. Sutton was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital by Acadian Ambulance. Francois was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital by State Police. The two rear-seat passengers were both unrestrained when the crash occurred and were ejected from the vehicle as it overturned. Desiree Silas (B/F, age 19) of Deridder, was in the rear right passenger seat, was ejected, and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ascension Parish Coroner’s Office. Darren Booker (B/M, age 19) of Deridder was in the rear left passenger seat, was ejected, and sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. Booker was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital by Acadian Ambulance. Alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor in this crash. However, blood has been taken from Francois and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelt use is at an all-time high. Seatbelt use nationwide is at 83 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 270 lives are saved for every one percent increase in belt use. Acting NHTSA Administrator David Kelly said a contributing factor for such historically high seat belt use is high-visibility law enforcement efforts, such as the Department’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Louisiana State Troopers will continue to enforce the state’s primary seat belt law in an effort to continue this upward trend in seatbelt use. SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES!!! BUCKLE UP!!! For more information contact: Tpr Russell G. Graham II Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Troop A Office: (225) 754-8524 russell.graham@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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