A wreck in Acadia Parish killed two teens from Morse. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
_____________________
A California ban on alligator products has been halted by a judge. Matt Doyle has the story.
___________________________
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.
Recent studies show speed is a contributing factor in 27% of all fatal crashes nationwide. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Gossen says impairment is unknown, but it appears the driver may have been competing with another vehicle.
Cut 4 (08) “…are not determined.”
Gossen says Mier was properly restrained, but Lacomb was not.
Cut 5 (09) “…that are buckled.”
The crash remains under investigation.
_______________________
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.
The new rule was the result of a California law passed in the 60s that was set to take effect on January first.
The gator population is thriving in Louisiana, with over two million in the wild, and 800,000 on farms, and Garrett says the ruling buys Louisiana time to save them…
The federal court will hear the Commission’s motion for a preliminary injuction on April 24th.
Garrett says they plan to pitch to the courts that not only would a ban harm conservation efforts, it would create a messy regulatory precedent…
_________________________________
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 Payne’s vehicle caused extensive damage.
Moreau says it was a real shock for troopers to have a drunk driver plow into their office at 5 AM, but it is a reminder that everyone is impacted by impaired drivers, even those behind thick walls…
Moreau says there’s no excuse to drive drunk this holiday season, and this incident is a good reminder to get yourself a DD or Uber if you’re planning to drink tomorrow night.
While the arrest was made by State Police, the investigation is being handled by Alexandria Police.
______________________
The sole 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 faces an extensive recovery, but he’ll receive around the clock care.
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
Barrios says Berzas has not spoken about his near-death experience as he’s on a breathing tube and medically sedated.