Louisiana State Police Investigate Fatal Thanksgiving Crash

Louisiana State Police were called out to investigate a fatal car crash on Louisiana Highway 13 near Gradney Lane on the morning of Thanksgiving.

As the preliminary investigation began, troops have determined some of the details of the two-vehicle crash. According to Louisiana State Police Trooper First Class Peggy Bouque, spokeswoman for the region, they believe that 20-year-old Kimberly Thomas was trying to make a U-turn in the roadway when her vehicle was hit by a truck.

Bourque says the truck was traveling south down the highway, began the U-Turn, and the truck hit the driver's side door. The Ville Platte woman, Kimberly Thomas, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the, and the woman was severely injured. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bourque says there were injuries also associated with this crash. When the crash happened, Thomas' passenger, and the driver of the truck, neither of which was buckled up, both sustained injuries that were described as moderate to severe. Both of these people were taken to an area hospital for medical help.

As is standard in any case, routine blood samples were taken from both drivers which will be submitted to a lab for standard toxicology tests.

Bourque says Louisiana State Police officials want to remind drivers of these important things to remember while driving:

Wearing a seat belt correctly can significantly improve your chances of survival and reduce severe injuries
Make sure your seat belt is properly positioned across your hips and shoulders
Make sure that any child in a vehicle is in their appropriate car seats and that they are installed correctly.
Don't let distractions disrupt you in driving safely
Always follow all driving laws

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