Five killed in head on crash

A two vehicle head-on crash on LA Highway 13 south of Eunice has claimed the lives of five people and left one injured in a local hospital.
Just before 2:30 p.m., 22-year-old Jacob Courville of Eunice, was driving a 2005 Honda Civic north on LA Highway 13. A 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 48-year-old Chaman Richardson of Mamou, was traveling south on LA Highway 13. For reasons still under investigation, Courville crossed the centerline and struck Richardson’s vehicle head-on.
Courville was wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner. Courville had three passengers in his vehicle at the time of the crash. Two of the passengers, 23-year-old Justin Bartram (son) and 44-year-old Laura Bartram (mother) of Opelousas, were unrestrained and were pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner. The third passenger, 24-year-old Joshua Lejeune of Port Barre, was unrestrained and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Lejeune later succumbed to his injuries Saturday morning, according to troopers.
Richardson was restrained and was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. A passenger in his vehicle, 29-year-old Jamie Prejean of Mamou, was unrestrained and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner.
This crash remains under investigation.
Lack of restraint use continues to be a leading factor in fatal crashes throughout Acadiana. Troopers remind occupants of motor vehicles that Louisiana law requires everyone in a vehicle to be properly restrained.