A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 Saturday morning claimed the life of a Sulphur woman.
According to State Police, the crash occurred about three and a half miles west of LA Hwy 1256 in Calcasieu Parish shortly before 8 a.m.
The preliminary investigation showed that 37-year-old Craig Adam Gaddy of Jacksonville, North Carolina, was traveling west on the interstate, when, for reasons still under investigation, Gaddy struck the rear of a Toyota Corolla that was traveling west ahead of him. After the impact, the Corolla ran off the right side of the roadway, entered a ditch, struck an embankment, and overturned before coming to rest in a tree line. Gaddy was able to come to a controlled stop on the inside shoulder of the roadway.
The driver and both passengers in the Corolla were all properly restrained and sustained moderate to severe injuries. All occupants were transported to an area hospital where 32-year-old Danielle Elyce Batchelder of Sulphur, the front seat passenger, succumbed to her injuries. Gaddy was properly restrained and not injured.
Toxicology samples were obtained from Gaddy and the driver of the Corolla and were submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, fatigued, or distracted, always ensure every occupant is properly restrained, and follow all traffic laws. While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop D has investigated one fatal crash resulting in one death in 2021.
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