SEPARATE ACCIDENTS TAKE LIVES IN AREA

State Troopers and local authorities were busy this week as two separate traffic accidents caused fatalities in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

The first accident occurred last Tuesday at approximately 7:30 a.m. At that time, Louisiana State Police Troop C troopers were called to a single-vehicle crash with critical injuries on La. Highway 24 near Grand Bois.

Authorities said preliminary investigation revealed that Trahan was traveling south on La. Highway 24 on a 2013 Suzuki Motorcycle. He tried to pass another vehicle in a right-hand curve that was marked as a no-passing zone when he lost control of the bike, running off the roadway to the left and being ejected from the motorcycle.

Authorities said Trahan was critically injured in the crash and was taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he was later pronounced dead.

Authorities said alcohol or drug use is not suspected in the crash, but per protocol, authorities conducted a toxicology test and results are pending.

Trahan was wearing a DOT approved helmet at the time of the crash.

In a release issued by Troop C, troopers encourage all motorcycle riders to take an approved motorcycle safety course, which can help teach safe riding practices and help apply riding strategies that can reduce the risk of injury if an accident occurs. The second deadly crash occurred on later in the week.

On Thursday night, Troop C Troopers were called to a single vehicle crash on La. Highway 182 near Cannon’s Landing.

Authorities said through investigation, they learned that Duffy Price, 55, of Houma, was traveling east on La. Highway

182 in a 2002 Nissan Sentra. For unknown reasons, Price’s vehicle ran off the roadway to the right and struck a guardrail. Authorities said he then overcorrected to the left and ran off the road again, striking several trees.

Price’s vehicle overturned and came to rest along the bay ou side.

Neither the driver nor his passenger, Tommye Riehl, 57, of Lockport, were wearing seatbelts and both were pronounced dead at the scene by the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office.