Prairieville resident killed in Ascension Parish fatal crash

Sunday afternoon shortly after 1:15 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A began investigating a two vehicle fatal crash that occurred on LA Hwy 42 east of LA Hwy 73 at Manchac Acres Rd. in Ascension Parish. The crash took the life of 59 year old Prairieville resident Madolyn C. Marionneaux.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as Marionneaux was driving a 2007 Buick Lacrosse southbound on Manchac Acres Rd. At the same time, 21 year old Adam Fitzgerald of Prairieville was driving a 1997 Ford F-150 westbound on LA Hwy 42. Marionneaux failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of Manchac Acres Rd. and LA Hwy 42, and pulled directly into the path of Fitzgerald's Ford. Fitzgerald was unable to stop and struck Marionneaux's Buick on the driver's side.

Despite the fact that she was wearing her seatbelt, Marionneaux sustained fatal injuries from the crash. Fitzgerald was unrestrained at the time of the crash, and sustained severe injuries as a result of the crash. Impairment on the part of both drivers is not suspected; however, Troopers have submitted toxicology samples from both to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.

Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists of the importance of seatbelt use, especially during a busy Memorial Day weekend. Louisiana law requires that every person in a motor vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a violent crash rise significantly when properly restrained.