Louisiana State Police: 3 men die in 2 crashes over Easter weekend in Troop E region
The first crash happened early Saturday, just before 2 a.m., after a trooper tried to pull over the driver of a 2014 Jeep Cherokee for improper lane usage on MacArthur Drive in Alexandria, according to a news release.
The driver "refused to stop, initiated a pursuit and continued fleeing westbound" on England Drive at a high rate of speed, but the trooper ended the chase after losing the Jeep, it reads.
The trooper kept searching, though, and about 50 minutes later, found the Jeep partially submerged in a bayou after it apparently left the road in a curve, reads the release.
Neither man who had been inside the Jeep, 30-year-old Brandon Wright of Pineville and 33-year-old Aaron Watson of Amite, were wearing seat belts, it reads.
Both had been ejected and died at the scene. An investigation is continuing and, at the time of the release, they had not been able to determine which man was driving the Jeep.
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The second crash happened about 9:05 p.m. Saturday in Avoyelles Parish, reads a separate release.
Troopers were called to a crash on Sayes Road near La. Highway 115 in the Effie community, finding a 2014 Polaris Ranger utility terrain vehicle that had been driven off Sayes Road and overturned.
The UTV was driven by Brian K. Luneau, 47, of Addison, Texas. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected. He died at the scene, reads the release.
A juvenile who was restrained was not injured.
According to the release, investigators suspect impairment to be a factor in the crash. Toxicology samples were taken, and the crash remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 3 men die in 2 crashes over Easter weekend in Avoyelles, Rapides
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