Woman pleads guilty in 2020 drunk-driving fatality
A St. James woman accused in a fatal drunk-driving crash while she was out on bond after a third DWI arrest entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Assumption Parish.
Latasha Hicks, 46, Tribbet Street, St. James, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and third-offense driving while intoxicated in 23rd Judicial District court.
The plea was part of an agreement with the District Attorney's Office, the DA's Office said.
According to prosecutors:
On June 22, 2012, officers with the Gonzales Police Department came into contact with Latasha Hicks during the course of a DWI checkpoint in the Gonzales city limits. Officers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from her person.
Hicks was given an opportunity to submit to a series of standardized field of sobriety tests, which she refused. Hicks admitted to officers that she had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages and prescription medication. Hicks was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.
On March 15, 2020, Louisiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash along La. 70 in Belle Rose in Assumption Parish. Troopers determined that Hicks was traveling west on La. 70 in a 2007 Ford Edge, while Brian Gros Jr. of Pierre Part was traveling east in a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado.
Hicks’ vehicle crossed the centerline and struck the vehicle driven by Gros head on along the eastbound shoulder of La. 70. Both Gros and Hicks were transported to area hospitals for severe injuries. Gros ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased shortly after the crash.
Hicks had a blood alcohol content of .190 g% which is more than twice the legal limit. Upon being released from medical care, Hicks was arrested by Louisiana State Police and booked into the Assumption Parish Jail, where she subsequently posted bond.
Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Dupaty is the lead prosecutor on the DWI charge, and Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney is the lead prosecutor on the vehicular homicide. Judge Alvin Turner Jr. is the presiding Judge over both matters.
Sentencing was deferred pending a pre-sentence Investigation. Hicks faces up to 30 years in state prison and remains out on a post-conviction bond awaiting sentencing.