Ignition lock ordered in service road deaths
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A man accused of driving drunk when he slammed into a car on an Interstate 10 service road in April, killing two Ascension Parish teenagers, must install an ignition interlock device on his vehicle, a judge ordered Friday. The device is designed to detect alcohol on the breath of drivers and, if so, makes it impossible to start the vehicle. Drivers have to blow into the device to start the car.
Chris Michael Bourgeois, 57, was not in state District Judge Lou Daniel’s courtroom for his arraignment Friday, but pleaded innocent through his attorney, Steven Moore.
Bourgeois is charged with two counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injuring, and one count each of first-offense DWI and reckless operation.
Ladarius Favorite, 15, of Geismar, and Andre Queen, 13, of Prairieville, died in the April 6 crash at the Picardy Avenue interchange. State Police said the juveniles were passengers in the back seat of a Mazda 626 that was struck from behind by Bourgeois’ Toyota pickup truck.
Bourgeois was traveling east on the I-10 service road between Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane when his truck hit the car, causing it to flip several times before landing in a ditch, State Police said.
The adult driver and an adult passenger in the Mazda suffered minor injuries. Another juvenile passenger in the car was uninjured. Bourgeois also was not injured. He was arrested after troopers smelled alcohol on his breath and he told them he had been drinking, an affidavitsays. Bourgeois told troopers he had two margaritas at Superior Grill a few hours earlier and had been taking more than five types of medication, the affidavit says.
Bourgeois had a blood-alcohol content of 0.128 percent two hours after the crash, according to the affidavit. In Louisiana, people are considered to be driving drunk if their blood-alcohol count is 0.08 percent or above.
Daniel said Bourgeois can drive only to work, church and in the service of other family members. Moore said Bourgeois’ elderly parents live in Baton Rouge.
Chris Michael Bourgeois, 57, was not in state District Judge Lou Daniel’s courtroom for his arraignment Friday, but pleaded innocent through his attorney, Steven Moore.
Bourgeois is charged with two counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injuring, and one count each of first-offense DWI and reckless operation.
Ladarius Favorite, 15, of Geismar, and Andre Queen, 13, of Prairieville, died in the April 6 crash at the Picardy Avenue interchange. State Police said the juveniles were passengers in the back seat of a Mazda 626 that was struck from behind by Bourgeois’ Toyota pickup truck.
Bourgeois was traveling east on the I-10 service road between Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane when his truck hit the car, causing it to flip several times before landing in a ditch, State Police said.
The adult driver and an adult passenger in the Mazda suffered minor injuries. Another juvenile passenger in the car was uninjured. Bourgeois also was not injured. He was arrested after troopers smelled alcohol on his breath and he told them he had been drinking, an affidavitsays. Bourgeois told troopers he had two margaritas at Superior Grill a few hours earlier and had been taking more than five types of medication, the affidavit says.
Bourgeois had a blood-alcohol content of 0.128 percent two hours after the crash, according to the affidavit. In Louisiana, people are considered to be driving drunk if their blood-alcohol count is 0.08 percent or above.
Daniel said Bourgeois can drive only to work, church and in the service of other family members. Moore said Bourgeois’ elderly parents live in Baton Rouge.
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