2 die, 3 survive Ascension bayou accident
ST. AMANT - Two children died early Wednesday after being rescued late Tuesday from a submerged car in Black Bayou off Springer Bridge Road, Louisiana State Police said.
The children, seven-year-old Faith Encalade and 9-year-old Patience Encalade, were with Raelyn Encalade, 28, of St. Amant and two other children in the 2003 Mercury Sable that went off the Ascension Parish road at 10 p.m., Trooper Russell Graham said.
The children who died were trapped inside the car under water and three Sheriff's Office deputies initially tried to rescue them but could not, Graham said.
Rescue divers from the Sheriff's Office, Gonzales police and fire departments and the St. Amant Fire Department responded and saved the children who had been trapped, Graham said.
St. Amant Fire Chief James LeBlanc said those children were trapped for at least 30 minutes.
Paramedics performed CPR and other life-saving measures on the children for about 30 minutes at the scene before they were taken to a hospital, LeBlanc said.
The three survivors, Raelyn Encalade and two girls ages 6 and 9, swam out of the bayou with help from bystanders, Graham said.
LeBlanc said authorities believe the woman is the mother of the four children.
All the victims went to a hospital, LeBlanc said.
Troopers do not believe impairment was a factor in this crash, but a sample of Raelyn Encalade's blood has been submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for chemical analysis, Graham said.
The crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed, Graham said.