Passenger Killed In A Second Fatal Crash On La. 31 Sunday

A Lafayette teen was killed in a single-vehicle crash near Parks Sunday morning marking the second fatality that occurred on La. 31 within three hours.

Master Trooper Brooks David reported 18-year-old Juliana Gerami, of Lafayette, was killed in the single-vehicle crash that occurred around 10:30 Sunday morning.

Gerami was a front-seat passenger in a jeep driven by 18-year-old Hunter Mansour, of Alexandria.

Mansour was driving northbound on La. 31 near the Cypress Island Extension Road when he swerved to avoid hitting another northbound vehicle. His evasive maneuvers caused him to veer off of the road, enter a ditch and strike a chain-link fence.

The driver and rear-seat passenger, 18-year-old Samantha Rivero, were injured but survived the crash.. Gerami suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by St. Martin Parish Coroner's officials.

All three occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Mansour was cited with careless operation, but the crash remains under investigation.

David said Louisiana State Police remind motorists of the dangers of distracted driving. Inattentive and distracted drivers account for a large number of serious crashes across the state every year. You can effectively reduce the chances of being involved in a crash by ensuring that while behind the wheel of a vehicle you remain focused solely on the task of driving.

Earlier Sunday morning David reported an unrestrained driver, 32-year-old Clarence Robins, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on La. 31 in St. Landry Parish when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.