Gonzales man booked with 2nd DWI after fatal wreck

Ashton Claiborne

PRAIRIEVILLE — A Gonzales man was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on Wednesday after a blood-alcohol content test showed he was over the legal limit following a fatal wreck last week, Louisiana State Police reported Thursday.

Ashton Claiborne, 29, of 2212 S. Robert Ave., was arrested on counts of second-offense DWI, vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injuring stemming from a Sept. 28 wreck on La. 73, State Police spokesman Russell Graham said.

Carolyn Brouillette, 56, of Prairieville, died in the wreck, which occurred at 6:30 a.m. and closed La. 73 between Airline Highway and La. 42 for much of the day.

It was the second DWI arrest in the past year for Claiborne, who registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.155, nearly double the legal limit, during a traffic stop Jan. 7 on Sherwood Forest Boulevard in Baton Rouge, Graham said. Graham said he was not authorized to release the results of Claiborne’s blood test.

State troopers said Brouillette was driving a 2013 Lincoln south on La. 73 when Claiborne 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.

Comments

1) Comment by ScotB - 05/10/2012

If he was a white woman, he might have a shot at 3 years in a halfway house (Sheri McElvenn) after running over a baby in a stroller or special treatment for 2 years in a local parish prison after killing a young mother and then cursing out the police for daring to arrest her(Tori Gosserand), but since he is obviously not a white woman he can expect a stiff sentence.

2) Comment by tradewinns - 04/10/2012

he's going to have to pay a severe penalty because he killed someone. he may not have intented to do so but drinking and driving could cause that to happen. and he knew it prior to his first drink.

3) Comment by BoiledCrabs - 04/10/2012

At this point he should be eligable for the death penalty. If he killed somebody in the past driving drunk then drives again under the influence that should absolutely be death. In fact, he could be killed with his favorite drug, alcohol. But electricity would be better.