A man is dead after a high-speed, head-on crash on Interstate 49 that may have been either speed or alcohol related.
According to Louisiana State Police, 18-year-old Deytwan Demetrius, of Fort Polk, was southbound on Interstate 49 just south of State Highway 485 when he lost control of his vehicle, careened through the median, and smashed into a northbound automobile driven by 39-year-old Jabe Maddox, of Longview. Mr. Maddox was declared dead at the scene; Mr. Demetrius and a passenger – 18-year-old Trevon Lewis, of Leesville – were both transported to a local hospital with various injuries.
Charges against Mr. Maddox, as well as the results from toxicology tests, are pending. [Read more…] about Fatal Car Crash Near Natchitoches
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Bankruptcy Court Confiscates Personal Injury Settlement
A federal judge recently ruled that people in bankruptcy cannot receive any personal injury settlement money until their creditors are paid in full.
Three years after his Chapter 13 creditor repayment plan was confirmed, Clyde Wilson sustained serious injuries in a car crash and received a $197,000 settlement. In determining that the money belonged to the bankruptcy trustee for the benefit of the creditors and not Mr. Wilson personally, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Kolwe, in the Western District of Louisiana, applied the “estate-replenishment test” and ordered Mr. Wilson to turn over the money. [Read more…] about Bankruptcy Court Confiscates Personal Injury Settlement
Mysterious Crash In Swamps Southeast Of Lake Charles
Investigators hope that a data recording device similar to the ones in most cars and trucks will yield clues about a helicopter crash in Iberia Parish.
Authorities immediately became concerned when the Gulf Coast Helicopters aircraft, which was surveying pipeline in the area, did not arrive at a scheduled refueling stop in Patterson. The Civil Air Patrol began combing the area shortly thereafter; by evening, several other agencies, including the Coast Guard and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, had joined the search. Rescuers soon found the wreckage of the helicopter in the Atchafalaya Basin, and removed the lifeless body of the 29-year-old pilot. [Read more…] about Mysterious Crash In Swamps Southeast Of Lake Charles
RIP Jimmy Long Sr.
The 84-year-old statesman died shortly after sustaining serious injuries in a car crash near his home in Natchitoches.
Authorities report that the former state Representative was backing out of a private driveway when a 16-year-old driver in a Jeep Wrangler smashed into with Mr. Long’s vehicle. The driver’s name was withheld due to his age, and Natchitoches Police Detective John Greely indicated that charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. Mr. Long served in the state House from 1968 to 2000, and served as chairman of the House Education Committee for sixteen years. A year after leaving that body, Mr. Long joined the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors, where he had served ever since. [Read more…] about RIP Jimmy Long Sr.
Landmark Fatigued Driving Report
Nationwide, drowsy driving may cause as many as one in five car crash fatalities, according to a recent report.
The Governors Highway Safety Association says that an estimated 83.6 million Americans get behind the wheel every day, even though they are dangerously fatigued. Industry experts, insurance company experts, and other professionals all collaborated on the 73-page study. In addition to the side-effects of drowsy driving, which include inattention, slow reaction time, and reduced decision-making ability, the report examined best practices for dealing with the problem, like the protocols that exist in Utah, Texas, and New York. Study authors were especially critical of commercial truck driver rules. Although the federal government has established limits for weekly hours of service, “repeated efforts to modify HOS regulations have resulted in the suspension of some provisions.” Additionally, the rules may be too generic to be effective, the report added. [Read more…] about Landmark Fatigued Driving Report
Be Very Careful Crossing The Street
A 53-year-old man died at the scene of a pedestrian-auto crash in Monroe.
The wreck occurred near the intersection of Ticheli Road and U.S. Highway 165. Investigators state that Matthew Davis was crossing the highway from a department store to Ticheli Road, when he was struck by 57-year-old Tharris Bishop, who was northbound on 165 in a Ford Expedition.
This intersection is near an elementary school and known to be extremely busy. [Read more…] about Be Very Careful Crossing The Street