A fatal car accident that occurred on the deadly stretch of Airline Highway on Sept. 2 leaves a family mourning the death of Leroy Williams, 35, of Garyville. Williams was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina and was traveling southbound on US Highway 61 when, for some unknown reason, the vehicle veered off the right side of the roadway. According to an eyewitness account, the car didn’t hit any other vehicle before it plunged into the water at 2:38 a.m.
Official reports said Williams over corrected the error and crossed the median and the northbound lanes of US 61. The vehicle then exited the left side of the roadway where it entered the canal and sank.
Rescue units were called to the scene and the vehicle and the driver were located. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. Official reports state that speed is believed to be a factor in this crash.
Councilman Richard Duhe is frustrated and disappointed that barricades aren’t being placed along the deadly canal to prevent people from drowning in the murky waters.
“Ride all over Louisiana and you’ll see barricades up preventing people from going into canals,” Duhe said. “But not in St. Charles Parish. Maybe if we got new leadership in the governor’s office then something would change.
“My prayers go out to the family, this is really a tragedy that will continue to happen unless something is done about it.”
The Washington family, who lost four children in the same deadly area four years ago, send their condoloscense to the family.
“I don’t know what it will take for someone to put barricades up along Airline,” Sandra Washington said. “My four children lost their lives, and nothing has been done yet to improve or correct the situation. What will it take for them to do something?
“Maybe it’s not hitting close enough home yet for some these politicians, maybe if it happened to someone in their family they would take action.”
Duhe said he would go the distance to bring attention to the problems on Airline Highway.
“If it means getting people together to picket at the State Capitol Building in Baton Rouge, I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” he said.
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