Three Dead In Calcasieu Parish Crash

Officials with the Louisiana State Police, Troop D, have issued a statement to the press regarding a crash Friday afternoon in western Calcasieu Parish that claimed the lives of three women from Texas.

On June 21, 2013, at 1:48 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 3063 and Louisiana Highway 109 in western Calcasieu Parish.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2013 Ford Escape driven by 53-year-old Diana Gonzales of Palacios, Texas, was traveling west on LA 3063 and failed to stop at a stop sign.  An 18-wheeler registered to O’Neal Feeders Supply of DeRidder was traveling north on LA 109 and had the right-of-way when the Ford SUV ran the stop sign which resulted in the 18-wheeler striking the driver’s side of the SUV.

Evidence at the scene indicates the driver of the 18-wheeler made a significant effort to minimize the impact.  Despite this effort, the 18-wheeler stuck the SUV with such force that it traveled approximately 376 feet before both vehicles came to rest in a ditch on the west side of the roadway.

There were two passengers in the SUV, 44-year-old Rosa Barron-Hinojosa and 79-year-old Lidia Trevino Gonzalez.   The driver and passengers in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.  All there women were from Palacio, Texas.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured.  All vehicle occupants were wearing a seatbelt.
A routine toxicology sample was obtained from both drivers and will be submitted for analysis.  The crash remains under investigation.

Inattentive and distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state.  Motorists are urged to drive with care at all times.  Information on distracted driving may be found online by visiting www.distratction.gov.