Pedestrian struck, killed on La. 997

A 42-year-old Pierre Part man was arrested Sunday night on allegations of vehicular homicide after he allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian while driving on La. 997 in St. Martin Parish, State Police said Monday.

The crash killed 26-year-old Mark Aucoin Jr., of Franklin, Trooper Stephen Hammons said in a news release.

Hammons said Toby Ponville was driving a 2006 Chevrolet truck north on La. 997 when he traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck Aucoin as Aucoin was walking north on the right shoulder. The crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m.

Tests performed by troopers indicated Aucoin had a blood alcohol content level greater than .08 percent. Hammons said.

In Louisiana, a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent is considered presumptive evidence of drunken driving.

Ponville was booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail on counts of vehicular homicide and improper lane use, Hammons said.

The crash remains under investigation.

Editor’s note: This story was modified on Oct. 23, 2012, to reflect that Ponville, not Aucoin, was booked.

Comments

1) Comment by Woody - 23/10/2012

note to editor: you might want to modify the story again as it still says that aucoin had a blood alcohol content level greater than .08 percent.

2) Comment by Woody - 23/10/2012

poor guy. first he gets killed, then he gets arrested.

3) Comment by foldgers - 23/10/2012

Ha. I can't believe I missed that! But hey, if dead people can vote, maybe they can be drunk driving and kill themselves while they are also walking on the road?? ;)

4) Comment by jmayuk - 23/10/2012

Hang on, let me see if I got this. Ponville drove a truck into Aucoin and Aucoin was killed. So the police checked Aucoin's (the dead guy) blood alcohol level and booked Aucoin (the dead guy) on drunk driving? Do you proofread your articles or just kind of hope for the best?