La. 73 in Ascension Parish reopens after fatal accident

PRAIRIEVILLE — A woman was killed Friday morning in a Prairieville traffic accident involving an overturned cement truck and two other vehicles, Louisiana State Police spokesman Trooper Stephen Hammons said.

Troopers said Carolyn Brouillette, 56, of Prairieville, was fatally injured in the 6:30 a.m. wreck on La. 73, north of Airline Highway.

The crash closed La. 73 between Airline Highway and La. 42 for several hours, but the highway was reopened shortly after 3 p.m.

State troopers said Brouillette was driving a 2013 Lincoln south on La. 73 when Ashton Claiborne, 29, of Gonzales, attempted to pass in a no-passing zone in his 2006 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle.

The SUV collided head-on with a 2012 Mack truck driven by David Milton, 49, of Prairieville. Milton’s truck then collided with Brouillette’s car, and all three ended up off the highway, troopers reported.

Claiborne and Milton suffered moderate injuries and were transported to hospitals, but Brouillette was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.

Hammons said it’s unknown if alcohol was involved in the accident, but routine toxicology tests will be administered and the crash remains under investigation.