Driver killed Thursday on La. 44 in Ascension
CONVENT — A woman was killed in a traffic accident Thursday afternoon on La. 44 north of La. 70 in St. James Parish, State Police reported.
She was identified as Suzanne M. Chauvin, 54, of Convent.
Troopers said in a news release that the crash occurred on La. 44 as Chauvin’s southbound 2011 Nissan Versa collided head-on with an approaching 2006 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Leeray Ardoin, 63, of Ville Platte.
For unknown reasons, Chauvin’s Nissan crossed the centerline into the northbound lane occupied by Ardoin’s Peterbilt.
The victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected from the Nissan. Ardoin was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was uninjured.
State Police said alcohol use on the part of Chauvin was not immediately known, but troopers submitted a toxicology sample from Chauvin to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.