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