Motorcycle Accidents

Crash In Crown Point Leaves One Dead, Three Injured

January 19, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A two-vehicle crash involving four individuals occurred last Sunday in Crown Point. Two were injured, one of whom, Susan Tiano, 71 of Lexington, Massachusetts, was later pronounced dead at University Medical Center in New Orleans, according to reports.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Bataria Boulevard and Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway at 5 p.m. January 9, 2015. According to the investigating officers, Tiano was a passenger in a 2015 Nissan Versa driven by Anton Becker, 75 of Newport, Massachusetts. The Versa was driving southbound on Bataria, when, after turning left and disregarding a stop sign, it collided with a 2004 Nissan Titan driven by a Marrero man.

The two occupants of the Titan as well as Marrero were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. Tiano, who suffered injuries significantly more severe was brought to University Medical Center by paramedics.

New Year’s Eve Crash Leaves One Dead, Two Injured

January 6, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A three-vehicle crash on New Year’s Eve left one dead and others injured, according to Louisiana State Police.

Jocelyn Tennart, 45 of Zachary, was traveling eastbound on West Flanacher Road in East Baton Rouge Parish around 8 p.m. last Thursday. Simultaneously, Marion Fuller, 71, was traveling south on U.S. 61. Tennart was driving a Saturn car while Fuller was in a Chevrolet Silverado.

For reasons yet to be determined, Tennart failed to yield at the intersection of the two roads causing her to come into the path of the Silverado. The impact occurred on the Saturn’s driver side and Tennart, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office.

Bicycling Teen Killed By Speeding Motorist

December 15, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Gonzales man is being charged with negligent homicide over the death of a Baton Rouge high school freshman last Wednesday.

On December 9, Brennan Rube, 14 years old of Prairieville, was bicycling on LA-73 when he was struck by a 2000 Dodge truck driven by Joshua Ashford, 26-years-old of Gonzales. The force of impact flung Rube from his bicycle. He was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene. The crash happened around 6 p.m., according to Louisiana State Police.

Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction and Rube was struck by the front right side of Ashford’s truck. According to the police report, Ashford was speeding on a road with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Police do not suspect Ashford of being impaired at the time of the accident, however a routine toxicology test is pending.

Two Motorcyclists Pronounced Dead After Collision with 18-Wheeler

December 8, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A three-vehicle crash in Delcambre resulted the death of an uncle and nephew from Abbeville, according to police reports.

On November 26, 2015, Jones Mitchell and Gerald Mitchell were traveling west on Suzuki motorcycles on LA 14 and approaching an east-west crossover. An 18-wheeler, driven by Earnest Comesana Jr., was traveling east on LA 14 and approaching the same crossover. Comesana turned left into the crossover to begin traveling east and the Mitchells were unable to avoid colliding with Comesana’s trailer as it entered their lane of travel.

Although the Mitchell’s were wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets, both received fatal injuries as a result of the collision and were pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Comensana was properly restrained at the time of the crash and received no injuries.

Failure to Yield Leaves One Dead

December 1, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Failure to obey a stop sign and suspected driving under the influence has lead to the death of a Ventress man last Friday.

Louisiana State Police has not completed its investigation, but according to initial findings, 27-year-old Nicholas Porche was driving westbound on Section Road in a white Sierra while Michael Holmes, 53-years-old of Ventress, was driving south on Beuche Road in a red F-150 around 5:30 on Friday, November 20. The crash took place at the intersection of both roads near Erwinville.

According to officials, Porche ran the stop sign at the intersection of Beuche and Section, causing the accident. Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene by the West Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office. Porche was wearing his seat belt at the time and received minor injuries, but refused aid.

Man Responsible for Vehicular Homicide Sentenced

November 9, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A drunk driver that caused an accident which lead to a man’s death was sentenced in Calcasieu Parish last Wednesday.

On September 27, 2014, Derek Paul Cooper was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-10 in the Sulphur area. He had a blood alcohol level of .24, three times the legal limit. He collided with a car driven by Jeremy Olivier, age thirty-one, who died as a result.

At Cooper’s sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Ron Ware ordered Cooper to 18 years in prison, with three years suspended and credit for time served. Judge Ware also ordered that the first five years of the sentence be served without benefit of probation, suspension, or parole. Cooper will be on supervised parole for 2 years following his release.

Three Vehicle Crash Claims Life In Baton Rouge Area

October 27, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A stop to check a tow strap turned fatal when the two vehicles were hit by a third on Monday, report State Police.

53-year-old Timothy Bird and 22-year-old Delvonte Wiley, both of Port Allen, were towing a 2005 GMC Yukon behind a 2000 GMC Sierra. They had stopped in the left westbound lane of US 190 just west of US 61 Baton Rouge to check on the tow strap between the two vehicles when a third vehicle, driven by 33-year-old Chauntel Barnett of Denham Springs, crashed into the Yukon.

The force of the impact caused the Yukon to buck forward, striking Bird, who had gotten out of the Sierra to check the tow strap. Bird was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and later pronounced dead. Neither Wiley nor Barnett were injured, according to State Police Trooper Bryan Lee.

Car Strikes UL Student In University Avenue Crosswalk

October 19, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette student was crossing University Avenue last week when she was struck by an oncoming motorist.

The student, whose name has been withheld, was in the crosswalk when she was struck, reports Cpl. Paul Mouton. The driver had made a left from McKinley Street onto University when the two parties collided.

The student received minor injuries to her leg and was taken to a local hospital. The driver received a ticket for failing to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

Louisiana Woman Sues Trucking Company for Negligence

October 5, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Louisiana woman is suing an out-of-state trucking company, and its employee over injuries sustained in a two-vehicle incident occurring last year.

Diamond Virgil filed suit against Merrill G. Bush, McLane Trucking, Inc., his employer, and the Insurance Company of Pennsylvania for injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the defendants’ negligence.

Virgil’s complaint states that she was driving eastbound on LA-48 on September 26, 2014, and had stopped at a red light at the intersection of LA-48 and Williams Boulevard. It was at this time that she was rear-ended by Bush’s vehicle, which struck with such force that it pushed Virgil’s vehicle into the intersection.

Teen Killed After Being Struck by Drunk Driver, Another Injured

August 18, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Eighteen-year-old Richard Billingsley of Prairieville was pushing a disabled vehicle off of the highway when he was hit by a speeding vehicle operated by a drunk driver. Billingsley was pronounced dead at the scene on LA 42 west of LA 44 in Ascension Parish. The intoxicated operator, 41-year-old J. Thomas Bowers, suffered no injuries.

Prior to the accident, Billingsley was riding with an unidentified woman when the SUV they were riding in broke down. Authorities reported that the driver turned on her emergency flashers and Billingsley got out to push the vehicle off to the side of the road. Unfortunately, according to the report, Bowers was traveling east on LA 42 and did not stop, striking Billingsley while traveling above the speed limit. The SUV driver received minor injuries while Bowers, despite not wearing a seat belt, was unharmed.

After Louisiana State Police arrived at the scene, Bowers refused to submit to a breathalyzer and was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital a blood sample was obtained. Bowers was charged with vehicular homicide, DWI, vehicular negligent injuring, reckless operation, open container, speeding, and not wearing a seat belt. This is Bowers’s second DWI offense.