Students Killed In Vermilion Parish Crash Identified
Louisiana State Police identify 16-year-old Alana Duhon of Abbeville and 15-year-old Sydney Colomb of Maurice as the victims in a deadly crash on Sunday. The news comes just after authorities announced the arrest of 20-year-old Tyler Meaux of Kaplan. Officers suspected Meaux was impaired and arrested him after a short chase on foot.
Investigators say Meaux was driving south in the northbound lanes of US Hwy 167 between Maurice and Abbeville. The victims were hit head-on by Meaux's Ford F-150. Two other passengers in the car were injured and transported to a Lafayette General.
Administrators at North Vermilion High School said an assembly would be held on campus Monday and that grief counsellors would be on-hand to help students deal with the tragic news.
Here is the full statement from Louisiana State Police:
VERMILION PARISH – Shortly after 7:30 pm on February 4, 2018, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two vehicle fatal crash on US Hwy 167 south of LA Hwy 697 in Vermilion Parish. The crash took the lives of 16-year-old Alana Duhon of Abbeville and 15-year-old Sydney Colomb of Maurice.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 20-year-old Tyler J. Meaux of Kaplan was travelling south in the northbound lanes of US Hwy 167 in a 2013 Ford F-150. At the same time, Duhon was travelling north in the left-hand lane of US Hwy 167 in a 2012 Honda Civic. The F-150 struck the Civic head-on.
Despite the fact that she was properly restrained, Duhon suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. Impairment on her part is not suspected. Colomb was a rear seat passenger in the Civic. She was unrestrained and suffered fatal injuries. Two other teenage male passengers in the Civic were transported from the scene to Lafayette General Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Meaux was unrestrained at the time of the crash but suffered only minor injuries. After the crash, he fled the scene on foot. Meaux was located a short time later on US Hwy 167 and taken into custody. Impairment on his part is suspected, and a toxicology sample was taken from him to be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. Meaux was placed under arrest and booked into the Vermilion Parish Jail for Vehicular homicide (2 counts), First degree vehicular negligent injuring (2 counts), Reckless operation of a vehicle, Hit and run driving, One-way roadways, and No seat belt. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that whether impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two, the consequences of driving while impaired can be deadly. To prevent tragedies such as this one from occurring, Troopers urge drivers to make good decisions while in motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, avoid all distractions, and always wear your seat belt regardless of seating position. Taking simple steps such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.