11-27-23
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD FROM PORT BARRE SHORTLY BEFORE SIX-THIRTY SATURDAY NIGHT. HUNTER JOSEPH HIGDON WAS DRIVING A PICKUP TRUCK ON HIGHWAY THREE-SIXTY WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROADWAY, STRIKING AN EMBANKMENT THAT CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO OVERTURN. HIGDON, WHO WASN’T WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS EJECTED. HE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE PLANTATION INN MOTEL PARKING LOT ON THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE. THIS IS THE SECOND HOMOCIDE IN THAT PARKING LOT IN LESS THAN A WEEK. ON WEDNESDAY, THIRTY-YEAR-OLD OLD KENNETH JOHNSON OF SAINT MARTINVILLE WAS SHOT AND LATER DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THESE TWO HOMOCIDES IS URGED TO CALL TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.
A STATE-COMMISSIONED REPORT HAS FOUND THAT LOUISIANA HAS NO SINGLE SET OF REGULATIONS FOR ITS JAILS AND THE RULES THAT DO EXIST FAIL TO ENSURE SAFE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR INMATES OR DISCIPLINE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ABUSE INMATES. TWO YEARS AGO, STATE LAWMAKERS ASKED RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS TO CONDUCT AN EVALUATION OF EXISTING JAIL RULES AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE RULES. ADVOCATES SAY THAT IF THE STATE ACTS ON THE REPORT, IT WILL DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INMATES. GOVERNOR-ELECT JEFF LANDRY’S TEAM IS REVIEWING THE REPORT.
POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A DEADLY SHOOTING EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN VILLE PLATTE. DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.
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THE LAKE CHARLES FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A HOUSE FIRE SUNDAY MORNING AT AROUND TEN-FORTY-FIVE IN THE THIRTY-SEVEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF SWANEE STREET. THE HOMEOWNER TOLD FIREFIGHTERS THE SMOKE ALARM WENT OFF AND THE FAMILY WENT LOOKING FOR THE FIRE, WHICH WAS IN THE BACK OF THE GARAGE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE LAFAYETTE AND DUSON FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO PUT OUT A FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME ON STANWELL AVENUE SATURDAY MORNING AFTER TEN. ONE PERSON IN THE HOME WAS INJURED ESCAPING AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL, STARTING IN THE GARAGE AND SPREADING TO THE ATTIC OF THE HOME. A NEIGHBORING HOME RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE.
A VIGIL WAS HELD OVER THE WEEKEND FOR AN ABBEVILLE WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH IN MAINE. THE VIGIL WAS HELD AT THE HOME OF THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MEGAN PLOWDEN, WHO WAS A NURSE. HER FUNERAL IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY. A GOFUNDME ACCOUNT HAS BEEN STARTED FOR MEGAN’S FAMILY TO HELP WITH FUNERAL EXPENSES, WHICH INCLUDE TRANSPORTING THE BODY FROM MAINE TO ABBEVILLE.
THE CITY OF DERIDDER HAS ISSUED A BOIL WATER ADVISORY. IT IS DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK. MUCH OF THE CITY IS UNDER THE BOIL ADVISORY. IT WILL BE RESCINDED ONCE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONDUCTS MANDATORY TESTING AND PROCEDURES.
