Baton Rouge Police Officer Russell Kiger was killed Friday morning in a traffic crash on Interstate 10 near Gross Tete. Kiger was off-duty in a personal vehicle with his cousin. Both died at the scene.

Kiger was a 2-year veteran of the department and a former Deputy with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Funeral arrangements are pending.

“This is horrible, tragic loss for the Kiger family and for our department as well,” said Chief Jeff LeDuff. “Please keep Russell’s loved ones and fellow officers in your prayers.”

The crash investigation is being conducted by Louisiana State Police.

An Independence man was killed in a one vehicle crash in Livingston Parish on Monday evening.  Livingston Parish Deputies were called to the scene of the crash on Mary Kinchen Rd at approximately 7:30pm. When they arrived they found a GMC truck that had struck a tree and was rolled over onto its side. The lone occupant of the truck, 20 year old Brooks Colton Newell was trapped inside. Members of Fire Protection District’s 1 and 10 assisted in extricating Newell from the vehicle. Newell was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The cause of the accident is still unknown but is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division.

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Jason Ard
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office

Last evening a Louisiana State Trooper assigned to Troop D in Lake Charles was killed in a two vehicle crash. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of Louisiana State Trooper Duane Dalton,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent and Deputy Secretary-Department of Public Safety. “The entire DPS family mourns the loss of Senior Trooper Dalton but we shall never forget his service to the citizens of Louisiana.”

On January 12, 2010, at approximately 7:30 pm, Trooper Dalton (39y/o of Lake Charles) was driving his State Police unit, a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria, south on US 171 approaching Gloria Lane near the community of Moss Bluff. Debra Bourque (50y/o of Lake Charles) was traveling east on Gloria Lane approaching US 171 in a 2007 Nissan Murano. Bourque entered US 171 into the path of Trooper Dalton’s vehicle. The front of Bourque’s vehicle struck the right side of Trooper Dalton’s unit. After impact, Trooper Dalton’s unit rotated clockwise, entered a ditch, and struck a culvert on the driver’s side.

Trooper Dalton was transported to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital by Acadian Ambulance Air Med. Trooper Dalton was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Bourque was not injured in the crash. Both Trooper Dalton and Bourque were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

A blood alcohol test indicated that Bourque had not consumed any alcohol prior to the crash. Further toxicology samples for Bourque are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.

Charges are pending the outcome of the continuing investigation.

Trooper Dalton is survived by his wife and three sons. Trooper Dalton began his career with the Louisiana State Police on December 3, 1995. At the time of the crash, he was assigned as a patrol trooper at Troop D.
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Trooper Dalton is the 25th trooper killed in the line of duty in the history of the Louisiana State Police. The last trooper killed in the line of duty was Trooper Hung N. Le of Troop B (Kenner) on June 30, 1998.

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Sgt. Stephen LaFargue
Louisiana State Police

Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated a single vehicle fatal crash on LA 409 north of LA 64 last night in East Baton Rouge Parish. Just before midnight, Romona S. Law (W/F, age 37) of Zachary was driving a 2000 GMC pickup north on LA 409 when she ran off the road to the right and entered a ditch. The driver’s side door struck a tree and the vehicle came to rest in the ditch near the tree. Law was pronounced deceased on the scene by the East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office. Troopers suspect that alcohol may have been a factor in this crash and have submitted a sample of Law’s blood to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis.

Troopers see an increase in fatal and serious injury crashes caused by impaired drivers every year during the holiday season. Louisiana State Police has increased manpower on the roadways during this holiday season to fight this trend, using overtime funds provided through a grant by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Over the past two days in Troop A, Troopers have made eleven DWI arrests. Three of these arrests stemmed from investigations into crashes involving injuries. The remaining eight arrests took place before the impaired drivers were able to injure or kill others or themselves.

Remember, there is no such thing as “slightly impaired”. Alcohol or drugs, impairment is impairment. If you drive impaired, Troopers will arrest you and book you into jail.

State Police investigators have determined, through extensive reconstruction of this crash which occurred on September 6, 2009, that Deven Newton, the driver of the 2005 Infinity, was traveling approximately 40 mph above the posted speed limit when Dorothy Smith attempted to make a left turn as he approached. Due to his excessive speed at the time of the crash, Newton has been charged with Negligent Homicide and Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle. He was arrested at his place of employment on Thursday, December 17, 2009 and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Here is the original press release from the accident, courtesy of Louisiana State Police:

September 6, 2009

BATON ROUGE – A two-vehicle crash on Jefferson Highway west of US 61 in East Baton Rouge Parish claimed the life of a Baton Rouge woman shortly after noon today. Dorothy T. Smith, (W/F, age 82) of Baton Rouge was driving a 1999 Mercury Tracer west on LA 73 when she turned left into the oncoming path of a 2005 4-door Infinity, being driven by Deven Newton (W/M, age 21) of Baton Rouge. Newton was unable to avoid striking the right rear of Smith’s vehicle. After impact, the Mercury spun clockwise in the roadway and Smith was ejected from the vehicle. The East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s office pronounced Smith deceased on the scene. Newton was properly restrained when the crash occurred and only sustained minor injuries.

Alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor in this crash. However, Troopers have submitted blood samples of both drivers to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis. This crash is still under investigation, and charges may be forthcoming.

Contact Information:
Tpr Russell G. Graham II
Public Affairs Unit
Louisiana State Police – Troop A
Office: (225) 754-8524
russell.graham@dps.la.gov
www.LSP.org