One Arrested, Five Seriously Injured In Early Morning St. Landry Crash

One person has been arrested and five people suffered moderate to severe injuries following an early morning major crash in St. Landry Parish on the first day of the new year.

State Police Sgt. Nick Manale said 32-year-old Yvonne Leblanc of Lebeau was driving her Jeep on Hwy. 182 at about 1 a.m. when she lost control of the vehicle and drove off the side of the road.

Manale said the Jeep began to roll over, and all six passengers, including four children, were ejected from the vehicle. None were wearing seat belts, Manale said.

The front seat passenger, 40-year-old Elizabeth Gaines, became trapped underneath the Jeep and suffered severe injures. The children, ages 7, 10, 10, and 14, suffered moderate to serious injuries, Manale said.

Manale was not injured and was subsequently booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on five counts of vehicular negligent injury, DWI, child endangerment, reckless operation, four counts of no child restraint, no seat belt, and failure to obtain auto insurance.