One Unrestrained Teenage Passenger Killed, Others Injured in Crash on US 90 in Louisiana
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana – One unrestrained teenage passenger was killed and others were injured in a crash on US 90 in Louisiana.
Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on July 9, 2023, a serious single-vehicle crash was investigated by the Louisiana State Police Troop C. The crash occurred on US Highway 90 eastbound, just to the west of Louisiana Highway 1. Tragically, the crash resulted in the death of 15-year-old Angel Acevedo from Houma, Louisiana.
The initial inquiry shows that a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by a minor, was heading east in the right lane on U.S. Highway 90. The reason is not yet established, but the SUV experienced a failure of the rear tire. The underaged driver tried to regain control by steering right, but this caused the SUV to spin and veer off the road to the right, resulting in an eventual overturn.
The young driver was wearing a seatbelt during the time of the crash and sustained mild to moderate injuries. Acevedo, seated at the front passenger side, and three other minor passengers in the back seat were not wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred. Acevedo was thrown out of the SUV due to the impact and had critical injuries. The three minors in the back seat also sustained moderate injuries. They were all taken to hospitals in the New Orleans area for medical attention.
A toxicology test was carried out on the underage driver and the sample was sent for examination.
Troop C was subsequently informed that Acevedo had passed away from his injuries on July 15, 2023. The investigation into this accident is still ongoing.
Louisiana’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program is a three-step program that allows novice drivers to earn driving experience under necessary supervision, with restrictions on nighttime driving and the number of passengers. The program is crafted to ensure new drivers, as well as others on the road, stay safe by enabling a seamless transition to becoming an experienced and responsible driver.
In 2023, Troop C conducted investigations into 12 deadly accidents, which led to a total of 14 fatalities.