3 die in Tri-parish area crashes

The weekend was another deadly one for Tri-parish motorists as three more accidents claimed lives throughout the area.

The first accident occurred Friday morning near Robichaux Lumber in Lafourche Parish.

In the wreck, Louisiana State Police Troop C say Geneva C. Toups, 80, of Raceland was driving Southbound on La. Highway 308 when she failed to yield while making a left turn into a private driveway. She was struck by a northbound vehicle driven by Chad Connor, 33, of Houma. Impact from that collision pushed Toups’ 2000 Chevy Impala across the road, where she struck a southbound 2006 Pontiac G 6 driven by Jaclyn Haydel, 24, of Raceland. After that collision, Paul Wolfe, 50, swerved to avoid the wreck’s aftermath and struck a mailbox.

Toups was pronounced dead on the scene. Connor, Haydel and Wolfe received no injuries. Alcohol and drug involvement is not suspected in the crash and the three uninjured people tested negative in breathalyzer tests. Blood alcohol test results on Toups are still pending.

Just more than 24 hours later, another fatal crash took the life of a Montegut man.

Saturday morning at approximately 11:27 a.m., State Police were called to La. Highway 182 near the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Shooting Range.

On the scene they learned 55-year-old Barry Belanger of Montegut was driving westbound when he ran off the roadway and struck several trees.

Belanger was wearing his seatbelt, but still was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol and drug use is not known at this time.

Saturday evening, a separate crash took the life of a Raceland man.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said they were called to Grandmaw Lane in Raceland where relatives said they found an upside down truck belonging to Kerry Robichaux, 32, of 145 Grandmaw Lane.

The truck was partially submerged in the 40 Arpent Canal and fire rescue units discovered Robichaux inside, authorities said.

The cause of the accident is not yet certain, but deputies suspect that as Robichaux headed southbound on Grandmaw Lane and approached a bridge and a left turn, the vehicle left the road and went into the grass, causing the man to lose control and go into the water.

The weekend was an overly dangerous one statewide as the State Police say 13 deaths were due to vehicle accidents between Saturday and Sunday in Louisiana.

“This is not the way to begin the Christmas season. It was as if every time my phone rang this weekend, I was being notified of another family’s loss,” State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson said. “I am very concerned. We are asking for the public’s help. Louisiana is experiencing a historic low in highway deaths and we want this trend to continue. Our message is clear: buckle up, restrain your children and never drive impaired.”