Motorcycle Crash Leaves One Dead in St. Landry Parish

St. Landry Parish - On May 28, 2015 at 9:34 PM, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two vehicle fatal crash that occurred on the eastbound travel lanes of US 190 at LA 95, just east of Eunice. The crash took the life of 38 year old Krystal McGinn of Iota, La.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 32 year old Tabitha Deshotel of Basile,La. was driving a 2007 Hyundai Sonata northbound on LA 95. Deshotel stopped at the stop sign on LA 95 at its intersection with US 190. 51 year old Brent Soileau of Eunice, La, was operating a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle east on US 190 approaching LA 95. Deshotel failed to yield from the stop sign and attempted to cross the eastbound travel lanes of US 190. As Deshotel entered the eastbound lanes, Soileau’s motorcycle struck the front left corner of Deshotel’s vehicle.

Deshotel was properly restrained and was not injured in the crash. A passenger on Soileau’s motorcycle (Krystal McGinn) was ejected from the motorcycle upon impact and sustained fatal injuries. Soileau was also ejected from the motorcycle and was air lifted to a local hospital with critical injuries. Soileau and McGinn were not wearing approved DOT helmets at the time of the crash. Impairment is not suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash, however; toxicology samples were obtained from Soileau and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. Deshotel was given a chemical breath test and was found not to be impaired.
This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists of the importance of wearing an approved DOT helmet when riding a motorcycle. The wearing of an approved DOT helmet significantly improves your chances of not sustaining a serious head injury during a crash on a motorcycle. As the summer months approach, please be on the lookout for more motorcyclists to take to the roads. Take that extra second and look twice before pulling into an intersection.
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