Police and Fire Briefs for March 23, 2008

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Mar 23, 2008 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Four people were injured in an accident on Interstate 10 between the Highland Road and Galvez/Prairieville exits on Saturday, according to Louisiana State Police.

A Chevrolet S-10 pickup was westbound on I-10 at 2:50 p.m. when it crossed the median and collided head-on with an eastbound Kawasaki motorcycle,  State Police Troop A spokesman Johnnie Brown said.

Paramedics transported four people, including the drivers of the motorcycle and the truck, to hospitals with moderate to serious injuries.

The driver of the Kawasaki motorcycle, Charles Munce, a 27-year-old male of Baton Rouge, sustained moderate injuries and was transported by Acadian AirMed to Baton Rouge General Mid-City.

The driver of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, Gwendolyn Annaloro, a 20-year-old female, of Youngsville, sustained serious injuries and was transported by Acadian Ambulance to Our Lady of The Lake. 

The passengers in the Chevrolet S-10, Allyson M. Smith, a 19-year-old female, of Houma, and Hannah Napier, a 19-year-old female of Athol, ID,  both sustained moderate injuries and were taken by Acadian Ambulance to Our Lady of The Lake Hospital. 

Just before the crash, Annaloro took her attention away from driving and was in the process of changing a compact disc, according to State Police.  She is charged with Careless Operation.  

Information on the identities of the injured was updated after The Advocate's press time by the online editor on duty.

Fire at T.J. Rib’s put out in minutes
Firefighters quickly extinguished a minor fire at T.J. Ribs, 2324 S. Acadian Thruway, early Saturday morning, according to a Baton Rouge Fire Department statement.

Firefighters were called to the restaurant about 1:30 a.m. after smoke alarms went off and located a minor fire in the smoker that was put out within 15 minutes, Fire Department spokesman Robert Combs said.

Investigators believe the fire was caused by a buildup of grease that overheated and ignited, Combs said.

Officials book seven on DWI counts
Authorities arrested at least seven people suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday, booking records show.

Those booked and the counts against them:

• Nicholas Alan Maples, 24, 8526 Miller Road, Ethel, first-offense DWI, improper lane usage and possession of Xanax.
• Antonio Castro, 29, 760 N. Donmoor Ave., first-offense DWI, hit and run, driver’s license not in possession and reckless operation of a vehicle.
• Kelly Saucier, 22, 21328 John Michelle, Zachary, first-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, improper lane usage, other laws of the road, possession of marijuana and speeding.
• Dedrick Ray Kleinpeter, 36, 6040 Clayton Road, first-offense DWI, failure to obey stop or yield sign, driver’s license not in possession and reckless operation of a vehicle.
• Kayla Danielle David, 25, 15475 Chenal Road, Jarreau, first-offense DWI, litter thrown from vehicle and reckless operation of a vehicle.
• Alfred Ledoux, 57, 3760 Edgemont Drive, first-offense DWI and failure to obey stop or yield sign.
• Aaron Thomas Puckett, 29, 11550 Southfork Ave., second-offense DWI, improper lane usage, driver’s license not in possession and reckless operation of a vehicle.