Lafourche, Terrebonne both see fatal weekend crashes

A Houma woman and a Chauvin woman were killed this weekend in a three-vehicle wreck just west of Chabert Medical Center.

Louisiana State Police Troop C was called to the scene at approximately 1:25 p.m. Friday afternoon.

They say a 2002 Chevy pickup driven by Ronnie Rios, 26, of Houma, was traveling westbound on Industrial Boulevard, when his vehicle crossed into the center lane and struck a 2004 Ford pickup driven by Patrick Voisin, 62, of Houma. Upon collision, Troop C said Rios’ vehicle continued westbound, swerving into the eastbound lane, striking head-on a vehicle driven by Samantha Marcel, 44, of Chauvin.

Marcel as well as her front-seat passenger, Lalisa Robinson, 35, of Houma, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office.

Also in the vehicle with Marcel and Robinson were Sandra Brunet, 44, of Chauvin, and Kara James, 47, of Houma. Both women received critical injuries and are being held in area hospitals.

Rios and Voisin escaped the crash with minor injuries.

Troop C say they suspect drugs and/or alcohol was a cause of the crash, but blood results are pending at this time. Rios has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injury, one count of vehicular negligent injury and one count of driving left of center and driving under suspension.

Earlier that day, Lafourche Parish also had a single vehicle crash, on La. Highway 1 near Fourchon.

State Police Troop C say they were called to the scene at 3:55 a.m. Friday morning where they say Legarick Taylor, 22, of Baton Rouge, was operating a 2001 Ford pickup southbound on La. Highway 1, when he failed to make a left bank curve, which ran his vehicle off the road to the right.

Troop C says the vehicle struck a support for a utility pole, then continued off the road before becoming submerged in the marsh.

Taylor and one of his passenger’s, Christopher Payne, 21, of Baton Rouge, were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and escaped with minor injuries.

But the vehicle’s second passenger, Kendrick Johnson, 23, of Baton Rouge, was not wearing a seat belt, and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Troop C said alcohol was a cause in the crash, after a breath test was administered to Taylor.

As a result, Taylor has been charged with one count of vehicular homicide and one count of improper lane usage. He was booked at the Lafourche jail.