Crash Involving Horse Leaves One Man Dead

Jeff Davis Parish- Early this morning, Louisiana State Police Troop D investigated a single vehicle crash involving a horse on I-10 Westbound at milepost 53. A Pasadena, California man dies because of the crash. According to investigating troopers, on January 1, 2011, at 12:23 a.m., a 2001 Mazda 626 was traveling west in the outside lane of I-10 at milepost 53. The driver, 41-year-old Joseph Gaushell of Pasadena, CA, struck a horse that was walking in his travel lane. The horse rolled over the hood of the vehicle and came to rest in the windshield. The horse died as a result of the crash. Gaushell was transported to a local hospital, were he later died because of his injuries. Toxicology samples were obtained and are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Troopers were able to determine the horse belonged to 52-year-old Nathaniel Lyons of Welsh, LA. Troopers gathered evidence indicating the horse had been improperly secured in Lyons’ yard. On several past occasions troopers as well as other local law enforcement agencies had informed Lyons to make sure the horse remained secure and off of state right-of-ways. Due to his failure to properly secure the horse and the resulting crash, Lyons was arrested for Negligent homicide. He was booked into Jeff Davis Jail. This crash remains under investigation.