Car Accidents

Gruesome Highway Crash Kills One

November 25, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

A pickup truck ran over a woman in the road after she was ejected from her car in a vehicle crash.
The wreck occurred on southbound U.S. Highway 61 between Kenner and Laplace. Per Louisiana State Police, 20-year-old Angelica Matamoros drifted across the center line and collided with 23-year-old Norman Porter, who driving an SUV. Ms. Matamoros was not restrained and was ejected from her vehicle. As she lay on the ground, 28-year-old Justin Hunter ran over the woman. Ms. Matamoros was pronounced dead at the scene.
State police opine that if she had been wearing her seat belt, the woman may have survived. “Motorists are encouraged to make the smart choice and to always wear their seat belt,” police said in a news release. [Read more…] about Gruesome Highway Crash Kills One

Good Samaritan Rescues Children From Burning Vehicle

November 16, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

A mother faces multiple charges after she allegedly drove off the road while intoxicated, causing serious injuries to her four children.
State troopers say that 29-year-old Kate Davis lost control of her 2005 Buick while northbound on U.S. Highway 165 near State Highway 101. The van left the road, entered a ditch, smashed into a culvert, and went airborne before eventually coming to rest in another ditch. The vehicle caught fire, and a passing motorist — whose name was not released — pulled the children out of the burning wreckage, sustaining severe burns in the process. All the serious injury victims were transported to local hospitals, but they are all expected to survive. [Read more…] about Good Samaritan Rescues Children From Burning Vehicle

The Long Road Back

August 26, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

Just over a year after a Lake Charles teenager sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car crash, he is leaving the hospital and going back to school for his senior year.
17-year-old Luke Burnham has been at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston ever since he was hit by a car while jogging. At first, doctors worried that the soccer player and cross-country runner would not survive the crash, and if he did, his brain injury would make him a vegetable. Initially, their fears seemed to be well-founded, because Mr. Burnham could only communicate by looking at “yes-no” cards and could not move, other than to straighten one index finger. But after aggressive treatment and therapy, he is ready to go back to school this fall. Although he is somewhat behind, Mr. Burnham took summer school classes, so he should be able to graduate with his peers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends again and all my teachers,” he remarked. [Read more…] about The Long Road Back

RIP Jimmy Long Sr.

August 15, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

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

August 12, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

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

Alcohol-Induced Fatal Crash In Sterlington

July 13, 2016 by Lee Hoffoss

An allegedly drunk driver killed one police officer and seriously injured two others during a traffic stop on southbound Highway 165.
According to Louisiana State Police, 44-year-old Tracy Govan, of Monroe, crossed the fog line in a 2014 GMC Sierra, striking three officers who were on the scene. Officer David Elahi was declared dead at the scene; two other officers, whose names were not released, were transported to a local hospital, where they are expected to survive. Mr. Govan now faces a number of criminal charges, including vehicular homicide, improper lane usage, and vehicular negligent injury. [Read more…] about Alcohol-Induced Fatal Crash In Sterlington