Bourg man killed in South Terrebonne crash

A Bourg man died in a five-vehicle crash Friday morning after his van struck the rear of a car stopped at a red light, went off the road and came to rest in a small stand of trees between Louisiana Highway 24 and Bayou Terrebonne, state police reported.

The Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office pronounced Charles Hanks, 72, dead at the scene.

Hanks’ 1992 GMC AstroVan was traveling north on La. 24 near the intersection of Clendenning Road in South Terrebonne when it struck the back of a 2002 Nissan Frontier. Michael Wickware, 60, of Lafayette, the driver of the Frontier, was stopped at the red traffic signal at the time, state police said.

Wickware’s Frontier veered across the southbound lane, traveled off the road and struck a fence. Troopers said the car went through the fence and struck three parked vehicles in a private lot before the SUV finally stopped.

State police said Hanks was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. There were no passengers in his van.

Wickware, who was also traveling alone, was wearing his seatbelt, police said. He sustained only minor injuries. He was treated at Terrebonne General Medical Center and later released.

Although alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash, in compliance with state law, blood was drawn from Hands to be tested. Wickware voluntarily submitted to a voluntary breath test, the results of which indicated there was no alcohol in his body, police said.