Teenager dies in Bayou L'Ourse-area crash

A Houma teenager is dead and a man faces a vehicular homicide charge after a two-vehicle crash Thursday near Bayou L'Ourse, according to Louisiana State Police Troop C.

The deceased is identified as Lebis Adonal Aguilar, 19.

Juan Ramos, 50, Houma, was arrested at a New Orleans hospital on charges of vehicular homicide, driving while impaired, careless operation and driver's license required. Ramos sustained serious injuries in the crash, Troop C said.

According to the state police account, shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, Ramos was driving a 2008 Lincoln Navigator east at a high speed in the right lane of U.S. 90 near Bayou L'Ourse. In front of the Lincoln, a 2022 Ram 2500 was towing a trailer, also headed east.

Ramos failed to slow down as he approached the truck and trailer, then swerved to the left to avoid a collision. He overcorrected and caused the Lincoln to rotate. It sideswiped the Ram truck, struck a raised roadside barrier and traveled over the edge, landing on its roof on the ground below, Troop C said.

Aguilar, who was a passenger in the Lincoln, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Ramos suffered serious injuries and was transported to a New Orleans-area hospital for treatment.

Seat belt use is unknown at this time for the occupants of the Lincoln. The driver of the Ram was properly restrained at the time of the crash and was uninjured.

Troopers determined Ramos to be impaired and arrested him on the four charges, Troop C said.

A toxicology sample was collected from Ramos and submitted for analysis. The driver of the Ram was determined not to be impaired and voluntarily submitted a breath sample which showed no alcohol detected. This crash remains under investigation.

Nearly half of the fatal crashes in Louisiana are caused by impaired drivers, Troop C said. Alcohol and other drugs affect visual ability, fine motor skills and reaction times. Drivers should have a plan for a safe ride home before consuming any alcohol or drugs because if you feel different, you drive differently

Troop C has investigated 46 fatal crashes resulting in 50 deaths in 2022.