‘Swamp People’ looking for next big thing
July 9, 2013Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes
July 9, 2013A Gibson woman and Houma man died in separate car crashes over the July Fourth holiday, state police reported, bringing the number of Tri-parish people killed on local highways to three since the beginning of the month.
A St. Mary sheriff’s deputy died the previous weekend after crossing into oncoming traffic and struck an SUV head-on, authorities said.
Vickie Landry, 60, of Gibson was killed shortly after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, when she lost control of her 2008 Chevrolet Colorado and struck a tree near Bayou Delight restaurant in Terrebonne Parish, state police said.
Landry was entering a slight curve on La. Highway 182 just west of the restaurant when she veered off the right side of the road and hit a tree. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Terrebonne Coroner’s Office pronounced Landry dead at the scene.
State police said impairment was not a factor in the crash, but routine toxicology tests are pending.
Rory Lyons, 41, of Houma, died shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday when his 2010 Land Rover careened into a large drainage canal that runs parallel to La. Highway 311, state police said.
Authorities said Lyons was speeding in the northbound lane of the Westside Boulevard Extension Bridge intersection when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the road and traveled 1,000 feet before striking the south guardrail of the bridge. State police said the vehicle went airborne, traveling over the roadway and north guardrail before landing in the canal.
Terrebonne sheriff’s office Water Patrol pulled Lyons’ body from the canal after the empty vehicle was found. The coroner’s office pronounced him dead at the scene.
State police said it is unknown if Lyons was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He was traveling alone.
Authorities are awaiting toxicology test results.
The prior weekend, Deputy Carril J. Cooks, 46, a St. Mary sheriff’s deputy, died when his motorcycle ran head on into oncoming traffic on La. Highway 182 near Aycock Street.
Authorities said Cooks was ejected from the bike and pronounced dead at the scene.
The Associated Press reported that Cooks was a six-year veteran of the department. He began his career with the agency as a road deputy in 2007. Two years later, he was transferred to the narcotics division.
