Details emerge as Chabert privatization draws near
May 14, 2013
New Coast Guard Chief to oversee district
May 14, 2013The victim of a wreck that allegedly occurred after he swerved to avoid a golf cart traveling on a Bourg highway has died, Louisiana State Police said.
Now prosecutors must decide how that will affect criminal charges for the South Terrebonne High School honors student who was allegedly operating the off-road vehicle.
The wreck has punctuated warnings from local officials that golf carts and other off-road vehicles are not allowed on highways, unless they have been converted to street-legal status.
State Police said an E-Z- Go Golf Cart, operated by Katelyn Duplantis, 18, of Chauvin, was traveling north in the northbound lane at around 2 a.m. May 5, in front of 4241 La. Highway 24.
A 2003 Oldsmobile Bravado was traveling north on the highway, driven by 63-year-old Cleveland Towns of Montegut.
“As the Bravado approached the golf cart, it swerved to the left to avoid striking the golf cart,” a statement from State Police Troop C reads. “The Bravado traveled off the road to the left and struck an oak tree limb. The tree limb impacted the windshield and roof of the Bravado. Duplantis was not injured in the crash.”
Towns, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Terrebonne General Hospital for treatment. He was later transported to University Hospital in New Orleans where he died Saturday.
Duplantis submitted to a breath test and was found to be over the legal limit of 0.02g% for someone under the age of 21, as well as above the legal limit of 0.08g% for someone 21 and older. Blood was taken from Towns and the test results will be pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.
Terrebonne Parish Assistant District Attorney Mark Rhodes said the case is still under review, with criminal charges against Duplantis pending.
