Update: Five People Dead After Acadia Parish Crash

A head-on collision on Louisiana Highway 13 yesterday afternoon claimed the lives of four people, and two people were sent to local hospitals according to Louisiana State Police.

State Police Spokesman Trooper Stephen Hammons says 22-year-old Jacob Courville’s car crossed the centerline on Highway 13 south of Eunice and slammed head-on into a car driven by Chaman Richardson.

Courville was wearing a seat belt, but was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner.  Two passengers in Courville’s car, a male and female were both unrestrained, and they were also pronounced dead at the scene.

His third passenger, 24-year-old Joshua Lejeune of Port Barre was not wearing a seatbelt, and he has now succumbed to his injuries at an area hospital.

Troopers have now identified the two passengers in Courville's car.  They are 23-year-old Justin Bartram and 44-year-old Laura Bartram of Opleousas.

The driver of the other car, Chaman Richardson was wearing a seatbelt and was taken to an area hospital with moderate injuries. The passenger in Richardson’s car, 29-year-old Jamie Prejean of Mamou was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner.

Hammons says it is unknown if impairment was a factor in the crash, but routine toxicology samples were taken, and they will be submitted to the State Police Crime lab for analysis.

The crash remains under investigation.