Roanoke, LA : One Lake Arthur man is dead and another is facing numerous charges following a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 on early Wednesday morning October 15th 2014

One Lake Arthur man is dead and another is facing numerous charges following a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 near Roanoke Wednesday morning, state police said. Sgt. James Anderson, spokesman for Troop D, said 22-year-old Jordan K. Gatte was ejected from the vehicle he was riding in and struck by an 18-wheeler. He died at the scene. Anderson said Taylor R. Pellerin, 21, was driving the vehicle and was also ejected in the crash. Pellerin, who hospitalized with moderate injuries, has been charged with vehicular homicide, DWI, careless operation and failure to wear a seat belt. "For unknown reasons, the truck traveled into the median and rolled over several times," Anderson said in a news release. "(Pellerin) and (Gatte) were ejected. Gatte landed in the westbound lanes and was struck by a passing 18-wheeler." Anderson said witnesses reported the vehicle was driven in an erratic manner prior to the crash and impairment on the part of Pellerin is suspected to be a factor in the accident. A toxicology sample was obtained from Pellerin and will be submitted for analysis. "Louisiana law requires vehicle occupants to be properly restrained in every seating position, day and night," Anderson said. "Wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the likelihood of being seriously injured or killed as the result of a crash. It is the single most effective thing motorists can do to protect themselves. This crash serves as yet another tragic reminder of how important that decision can be." According to Anderson, 63 percent of vehicle occupants who died in crashes investigated by Troop D in 2013 were killed by an impaired driver. "Motorists are encouraged to report impaired drivers by dialing *LSP (*577) from any cell phone or by contacting local law enforcement," Anderson said. The accident is the 12th fatal crash Troop D has investigated this year. Source : Lake Arthur man killed in early morning crash near Roanoke