The National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg says they hope to have a preliminary report on last Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Lafayette in about two weeks, but the investigation will last much longer than that…
cut 15 (10) “…we need”
The N-T-S-B has video of the crash and they are asking for anyone with audio of the plane to come forward.

128 officers were killed in the line of duty this year, including four in Louisiana. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto says the 128 is an 18-percent decline from last year…
cut 10 (09) “…also helped”
Shreveport police officer Chateri Payne and Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto were fatally shot. Baton Rouge Police Officer Shane Totty died in a motorcycle accident. E-B-R Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Whitstine died from congestive heart failure before crashing.

Cops will flood the roads tonight ahead of a holiday that is known for late-night celebrating…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Nine people have died from six home fires in north Louisiana this month. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says most of the fatalities followed a similar pattern…
Cut 4 (12) “…unsafely.”
And tonight we are expecting another chilly night, so follow safety precautions when using a space heater.

The investigation into Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Lafayette is in the early stages and investigators are not ruling anything in or ruling anything out as far as a cause. N-T-S-B Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg says the four corners of the plane were found at the crash site…
cut 14 (08) “…mid-air”
He says the flaps were up, which suggests the plane was not preparing to land.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says 128 officers died in the line of duty over the past year, an 18-percent decrease from 2018.The Fund’s CEO Marcia Ferranto says there were four officer deaths in Louisiana…
cut 9 (09) “…physical related death”
Shreveport police officer Chateri Payne and Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto were fatally shot. Baton Rouge Police Officer Shane Totty died in a motorcycle accident. East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Whitstine died from congestive heart failure before crashing.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says nine people have died in six different home fires in north Louisiana this month. Browning says it’s important to note that these fatal fires have been disproportionately impacting some of society’s most vulnerable…
cut 6 (11) “….community”
If you need help purchasing a smoke alarm, visit l-a-s-f-m-dot-org.

State Police will be out in force tonight hunting drunk drivers on one of the biggest party nights of the year. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman says drunk driving crashes spike in the 100 hours before New Years, with 74 injuries and two deaths from drunk crashes last year.
Cut 10 (08) “…good thing.”

Funeral services have been set for four of the five victims in Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Lafayette. A joint funeral will be held Thursday for Gretchen Vincent and her 15-year-old son Walker in Lafayette. Ian Biggs was the pilot, his funeral will be Saturday in Lafayette and funeral services for sports reporter Carley McCord is set for Saturday in Baton Rouge.

A rash of home fires in north Louisiana has claimed nine lives in December, two of the victims ran back into their burning homes…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Police will be on the look out for drunk drivers on this New Year’s eve. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission executive director Lisa Freeman says the public can help, by reporting to authorities if they see someone driving dangerously…
cut 12 (07) “…the road”
Freeman says impaired drivers that are caught will go to jail.

A 35-year-old Crowley man has been charged with felony hit and run. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says they believe Justin Duhon was the driver of the pickup truck that struck a 10-year-old riding his bike and then fled the scene. Broussard says a woman reportedly in the car with Duhon at the time of the incident provided the tip they needed…
cut 9 (06) “…community involvement”
State Police arrested Duhon in New Orleans. At last report the child was in critical but stable condition.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators have security footage of the plane involved in Saturday’s crash that killed five in Lafayette as it was coming down from the clouds. Lead investigator Dr. Jennifer Rodi is asking anyone that may have cameras within the vicinity of the crash to come forward.
Cut 13 (13) “…please reach out.”
N-T-S-B is not ruling out anything when it comes to possible causes into the crash.

A Crowley man, 35-year-old Justin Duhon, is charged with a felony for a Sunday afternoon hit-and-run that put a 10-year-old in a Baton Rouge hospital. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard…
Cut 7 (08) “…which it did.”
Authorities tracked down Duhon in Orleans Parish.

We are anticipating a chilly New Year’s Eve night which is concerning to State Fire Marshal Butch Browning, who says eight people have died in home fires in north Louisiana over the last three weeks. Two of the fatalities were the result of people running back into their homes after they already escaped. Browning says if you’re lucky enough to get out, stay out…
Cut 5 (06) “…people.”
45-year-old Christy Parker died Christmas Eve in Benton after running back into her home to save her dog.

Law enforcement will try to avoid investigating crashes involving drunk drivers tonight. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is pushing an aggressive anti-drunk driving campaign…
cut 11 (11) “…times”
That’s commission executive director Lisa Freeman, who says during last year’s New Year’s Eve holiday period, two people were killed and 74 injured in alcohol-related crashes on Louisiana roads.

National Transportation Safety Board officials are asking for the public’s help in the investigation into the plane crash that killed five people in Lafayette Saturday. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (32) I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The medical director of the Lourdes Burn Unit in Lafayette says there is a long recovery ahead for the lone plane crash survivor, Wade Berzas. He’s in critical condition with burns over 75-percent of his body.

Crowley police have charged 35-year-old Justin Duhon with Felony Hit and Run. Authorities say Duhon’s pickup truck hit a 10-year-old boy who was riding a bike he just received for Christmas…
cut 8 (11) “…split-second”
That’s Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard, who says the child is in critical, but stable condition at a Baton Rouge hospital. Duhon was arrested in New Orleans. That’s where he fled after hitting the child.

State Police will be out in force tonight hunting drunk drivers on one of the biggest party nights of the year. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman says drunk driving crashes spike in the 100 hours before New Years, with 74 injuries and two deaths from drunk crashes last year.
Cut 10 (08) “…good thing.”

A rash of home fires in north Louisiana has claimed nine lives in December, two of them the result of people running back into their burning homes…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Cops will be flooding the roads tonight ahead of a holiday that is known to spike drunk driving crashes. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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National Transportation Safety Board officials are asking for the public’s help in their investigation into the plane crash that killed five people in Lafayette Saturday. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32) I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Nine people have died from six home fires in north Louisiana alone this month as the weather has grown colder.

Fire Marshal Butch Browning says most of the fatalities followed the same pattern, a pattern he hopes other residents will take to heart as we go deeper into winter.

Cut 4 (12) “…unsafely.”

The fatal fires have struck Wisner, Haughton, Shreveport, Coushatta, Cullen, and Benton.

Two of the fatalities were the result of people running back into their homes after they had already escaped. Browning says if you’re lucky enough to get out, stay out…

Cut 5 (06) “…people.”

45-year-old Christy Parker died Christmas Eve in Benton after running back into her home to save her chihuahua.

Browning says it’s important to note that these fatal fires have been disproportionately impacting some of society’s most vulnerable.

Cut 6 (11) “…community.”

If you need help purchasing a smoke alarm, visit lasfm.org.

_______________________

A Crowley man, 35-year-old Justin Duhon, is charged with a felony for a Sunday afternoon hit-and-run that put a 10-year-old in a Baton Rouge hospital.  The child is in critical but stable condition.  Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says photos and videos from incident helped to find the vehicle.

Cut 7 (08) “…which it did.”

Broussard says the child was riding the bicycle he had just received for Christmas in a residential area with friends when the incident happened.

Cut 8 (11) “…in a split second.”

Duhon was later located in Orleans Parish after a Crowley resident called State Police saying we was on the phone with a female passenger in the truck during the incident and was still in the vehicle.  Broussard credits the help of the community for the ability to solve the case quickly.

Cut 9 (06) “…by community involvement.”

_____________________________________________

State Police will be out in force tonight hunting drunk drivers on one of the biggest party nights of the year.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman says drunk driving crashes spike in the 100 hours before New Years, with 74 injuries and two deaths from drunk crashes last year.

Cut 10 (08) “…good thing.”

Nationally 285 people were killed across the country in 2018 during the Christmas and New Years periods.

Even though the numbers are beginning to dip, Freeman says they’re still pushing an aggressive anti-drunk driving campaign…

Cut 11 (11) “…times.”

If you see another car driving dangerously on the roads tonight, Freeman says get some distance, pull over, and report it to save theirs, and other people’s lives.

Cut 12 (07) “…the road.” 

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National Transportation Safety Board investigators have found security footage of the plane involved in Saturday’s crash that killed five in Lafayette as it was coming down from the clouds.  Lead investigator Dr. Jennifer Rodi is asking anyone that may have cameras within the vicinity of the crash to come forward.

Cut 13 (13) “…please reach out.”

The plane took off at about 9:20 on Saturday morning heading for Atlanta, where the passengers were going to attend the Peach Bowl.  However, it descended from about 900 feet before it hit a post office parking lot then crashed into a field at 9:22.  No distress calls were made from the plane.

NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg says they have located the four corners of the plane at the crash site.

Cut 14 (08) “…apart in mid-air.”

There was no cockpit voice recorder on board the aircraft, so unlike commercial aircraft investigators will not be able to hear what was said in the cockpit.  Much of the aircraft has been sent back to the manufacturer for further research.

Landsberg says they have not taken any possible causes off the table, adding that a preliminary report will be ready within the next two weeks with a factual report ready in about twelve months.

Cut 15 (10) “…that we need.”

Only one passenger, 37-year-old Wade Berzas, survived the crash and remains in critical condition after suffering burns to over 75 percent of his body.

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Saints fans are disappointed their team did not get a first-round bye, but Coach Sean Payton is excited about their match-up on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings…

Cut 16  (18)  …for Sunday” 

Kick-off on Sunday is at noon. After three consecutive 7-and-9 seasons, the Saints are in the playoffs for a third consecutive year. Payton says this year’s squad dealt with more adversity…

Cut 17  (19) “the comparison” 

After giving up 48 points in a loss to San Francisco on December 8th, the Saints have allowed just 45 points in their last three games. Linebacker A-J Klein says there’s still room for improvement…

cut 18  (20) all right”  

The lone survivor from Saturday’s Lafayette plane crash that killed five people has burns to 75 percent of his body, but is in stable, if still critical condition. Doctor Joey Barrios, medical director of the Our Lady of Lourdes Burn Unit, says Wade Berzas also has a dislocated shoulder and lacerations to his head. But Barrios says Berzas is 37-years-old which helps, plus he was in good health before the crash

Cut 14 (09) “…more critical”

Two teens from Morse are dead following a wreck on I-10 in Acadia Parish just before 8 o’clock last night. Trooper Thomas Gossen says impairment is unknown, but it appears the driver may have been competing with another vehicle.

Cut 4 (08) “…are not determined.”

Kyler Mier and his passenger Dante Lacombe, both 19, were declared dead at the scene.

A federal judge temporarily halts a California law banning the sale of alligator products in the Golden State, a law officials say would devastate gator conservation efforts in the Bayou State. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries General Counsel Cole Garrett says it’s good news because the California fashion industry buys a lot of gator products, which pays for conservation.

Cut 6 (10) “…in place.”

The federal court will hear the Commission’s motion for a preliminary injuction on April 24th.

50-year-old Felicia Payne of Alexandria allegedly drunk drove her car into State Police Troop E’s office, and was arrested on scene as a result. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says with New Years Eve coming up, don’t risk an incident like this for yourself…

Cut 11 (10) “…tommorow.”

The lone surviving passenger from Saturday’s fatal plane crash in Lafayette that killed five people remains in critical condition, but there is hope Wade Berzas will survive despite burns to over 75-percent of his body. Doctor Joey Barrios, medical director of the Our Lady of Lourdes Burn Unit, says Berzas is recovering after undergoing a two-hour surgery today…
Cut 12 (08) “…unwavering faith” 
Barrios says Berzas has a long journey ahead.
Two teens from Morse are dead following a wreck on I-10 in Acadia Parish just before 8 o’clock last night.  Trooper Thomas Gossen says excessive speed was a factor in the accident that claimed the lives Kyler Mier and his passenger Dante Lacombe, both 19.

Cut 3 (10) “…LA 91 overpass.”

Gossen says impairment is unknown, but it appears the driver may have been racing another vehicle.

A California ban on alligator products has been halted by a judge.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

50-year-old Felicia Payne of Alexandria was arrested after she allegedly drove drunk into the State Police Troop E building.  State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says thankfully there were no injuries, but the wreck caused extensive damage.

Cut 9 (11) “…sample.”