Impaired Driver Crashes Into State Police Car And Injures Trooper

SULPHUR – Two people, including a Louisiana State Trooper, were hospitalized today and an impaired Texas man is in jail after crashing into a Louisiana State Police car in Calcasieu Parish.

On May 25, 2015, shortly before noon, Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop D were investigating a crash on the Interstate 210 Westbound to Interstate 10 Westbound entrance ramp near Sulphur.  Due to lane blockage on the ramp, all traffic was being diverted onto an exit just prior to the ramp by a Troop D Trooper and the Calcasieu Parish Motorist Assistance Patrol.

At 11:59 a.m., a westbound 2010 Nissan SUV driven by 41-year-old Frederico Torres of Texas City, TX ignored the roadblock and drove around the vehicles. Torres also ignored hand signals to stop.  Shortly thereafter, the Nissan Torres was driving crashed into a fully marked Louisiana State Police Ford Police Interceptor with its emergency lights activated.  The crash pushed the Ford forward into Trooper First Class Derek Cormier as well as another pedestrian who were standing in front of the Ford.

Trooper Cormier was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries.  The other pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.  Torres was not injured.

A breath test determined Torres was over 3 times the legal limit for alcohol impairment. He was charged with DWI (3^rd offense), vehicular negligent injuring, careless operation, and disregard of a traffic control.  Torres was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center.  The crash remains under investigation.

This crash could have easily killed the pedestrians who were struck today.  Motorists are asked to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before traveling to any place where alcohol will be consumed.  To report impaired drivers, motorists are encouraged to dial *LSP (*577) from their cellular phone or to contact their local law enforcement agency.