***UPDATE - Arrest Made in Fatal Crash***
Following an extensive investigation, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested the 16-year-old driver in connection with this fatal crash. She has been arrested on the following charges and booked into the Florida Parish’s Juvenile Detention Center:
Two Counts of Vehicular Homicide/Driving Under the Influence - Felony
One Count of First Degree Vehicular Injuring- Felony
One Count of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (1st Offense) - Misdemeanor
One Count of Possession of Schedule II CDS - Felony
One Count of Possession of Schedule IV CDS - Felony
One Count of Reckless Operation - Misdemeanor
One Count of Unlawful Operation by a Child Less that 17 (Between Certain Hours Prohibited)- Misdemeanor
Since this case involves juveniles, no additional information will be released by this agency.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2021
***Investigation Into Fatal Crash Continues***
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies are continuing the investigation into the late-night crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers on Guste Island Road near Madisonville.
While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, members of the STPSO Traffic Division believe the 2019 white Honda civic was traveling southbound on Guste Island Road shortly after midnight Wednesday (Aug. 4) morning at a high rate of speed when it ran off the roadway, impacting two trees, a utility box and two signs.
The vehicle was occupied at the time by what is believed to be four 16-year-old local females. Two of the occupants were pronounced dead on the scene by medical personnel. The female that was believed to be driving at the time and another passenger were transported by medical personnel to a local hospital with injuries.
“My heartfelt prayers go out to all of the families involved,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “While it is always a tragedy when young lives are lost, it is especially challenging to have something like this happen in our community just days away from the start of the new school year. My thoughts are also with the friends of these girls as they return to class mourning two of their classmates.”