Two Drivers Killed in St. Landry Parish Head-On Crash
St. Landry Parish – Shortly before 10:30 p.m. on September 23, 2022 Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 49 near mile post 21 (just north of US 190) in St. Landry Parish. The crash claimed the life of 75-year-old Landry C. Fontenot, Jr. of Ville Platte and 66-year-old Grace J. Eaglin of Opelousas.
The preliminary investigation revealed Fontenot was driving in a 2015 GMC Sierra pickup south in the northbound left lane of I-49. At the same time, Eaglin was driving a 2011 Nissan X-Terra north on I-49, also in the left lane. Fontenot’s wrong-way pickup struck the X-Terra head-on in the northbound lane.
Fontenot and Eaglin were both restrained but succumbed to injuries at the scene. Both drivers were pronounced dead by the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment is unknown but standard toxicology samples were obtained from the drivers and results are pending. This crash remains under investigation.
Troop I has investigated 37 fatal crashes resulting in 43 deaths since the beginning of 2022.
Contact Information:
TFC Thomas Gossen
Louisiana State Police
Troop I Public Affairs
