BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (BRPROUD) – Louisiana State Police are investigating three separate traffic crashes that left four people dead in Livingston and West Baton Rouge Parish.
Denham Springs
Just before midnight on June 28, police officers were called to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana 16 at Bailey Lane in Livingston Parish. Police identified the victims as Kenneth M. Broussard II, 28, of Prairieville and Abigail Wheat, 22, of Denham Springs.
According to LSP, a 2007 Infiniti M35 was traveling south on Louisiana 16 near Bailey Lane. At the same time, a 2005 Dodge Neon was traveling north on Louisiana 16. The Infiniti crossed the center line and struck the Dodge head-on.
State police said Broussard was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Wheat, who was in the passenger seat of the Infiniti, was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to LSP, the driver of the Infiniti suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
A routine toxicology sample was taken for testing. This is an ongoing investigation.
Livingston
On Saturday, June 29, officers were called to a car crash on Louisiana 63 near Louisiana 444 just before 3 a.m. Police identified the victim as Joseph Dodds, 23, of Livingston.
According to LSP, Dodds was driving a 2022 Toyota Corolla south on Louisiana 63 near Louisiana 444. Dodds’ car left the road and struck a tree.
State police said Dodds was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A routine toxicology sample was taken for testing. This is an ongoing investigation.
Port Allen
Just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, officers were called to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana 415 near Commercial Drive in West Baton Rouge Parish. Police identified the victim as Jada Bergeron, 20, of Mamou.
According to LSP, a 2015 Kia Rio driven by Carlos Thomas, 37, was traveling north on Louisiana 415 near Commercial Drive. At the same time, a 2012 Nissan Altima was traveling south on Louisiana 415.
“The Kia turned left into a private driveway in front of the Nissan. This caused the front of the Nissan to strike the side of the Kia,” LSP said in a press release.
Bergeron, the passenger in the Altima, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to LSP.
State police said Thomas and the passenger in the Kia were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The passenger suffered moderate injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Thomas was arrested and booked into the West Baton Rouge Jail for improper use of the roadway, negligent homicide, and personal injury by vehicle.
A routine toxicology sample was taken for testing. This is an ongoing investigation.
