Three Hahnville High School graduates who were freshmen at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux were killed early Saturday morning in a two-vehicle crash that authorities say was caused by a suspected drunk driver.
Nicholls State officials identified Michaila Bowling, 18, Lily Dufrene, 19, and Hali Coss, 18, all from Luling, as the victims of the fiery crash that State Police said occurred on Louisiana 20 in Chackbay.
The crash occurred as the women were riding home together from a birthday dinner for Dufrene, according to a GoFundMe organized to help their families cover funeral expenses.
Seven people died in two fatal crashes involving impaired drivers in South Louisiana, Louisiana State Police said. The incidents happened in t…
The women were driving southbound on La. 20 just after midnight when their vehicle was hit head-on by a pick-up truck driven by Joey Clement, 39, of Thibodaux, State Police said. Clement, driving northbound, crossed the centerline, according to authorities.
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames after the crash. Coss, Dufrene and Bowling were pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said. Clement, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries.
Clement "displayed signs of impairment," leading State Police to arrest and book him with DWI-fourth offense, authorities said. Additional charges are pending.
Toxicology tests will be conducted for Clement and the driver of the SUV, State Police said. No details were available Monday about Clement's previous DWI arrests.
Bowling and Dufrene were freshmen nursing students while Coss was studying health sciences, according to Michele Caruso, vice president for student affairs at Nicholls State. In a statement released Saturday, Caruso called their deaths a tremendous loss for the community.
"We offer our sincerest condolences to Michaila's, Hali's and Lily's families, friends, loved ones and all who knew them" Caruso said.
The university has reached out to the women's families and provided counseling services for any Nicholls students in need, spokesman Jerad David said Monday.
