Toddler Dies, Three Injured In Rural St. Landry Parish Crash

A two-year-old child is dead and three others are injured following a single-vehicle crash that happened Sunday morning in rural St. Landry Parish.

Master Trooper Brooks David reported 33-year-old Shaparia Citizen of Church Point was traveling east on La. 754 near Sunset when she went off the road as she entered a right curve. The Mitsubishi Lancer then traveled through a ditch, up an embankment and struck several trees.

Citizen, who refused medical aid, and two juvenile passengers sustained minor injuries in the crash. A two-year-old, riding in the rear of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat, suffered severe injuries and was transported to Opelousas General where the child later died.

Though troopers determined Citizen was not impaired at the time of the crash, blood samples were obtained and will be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

Troopers are continuing to investigate the crash, but have not yet released details of what caused the driver to steer the car off of the roadway. In the release, David reminds drivers that distractions, including cell phones, radios and passengers, are a common cause of crashes. He also included, Louisiana State Police conducts child safety seat installation checks at their Troop I headquarters.