Three local people killed in North Louisiana crashes

Three area men were among four people killed in north Louisiana crashes within two days, state police said.
A 23-year-old Centerville man and a 35-year-old Charenton man were among three people killed in a collision with a train Monday in DeSoto Parish, according to state police Troop G officers.
An 88-year-old New Iberia man died this morning in a separate, single-vehicle wreck also in DeSoto Parish, state police said.
At 12:57 p.m. Monday, Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a crash involving a train and a pickup truck near La. 5 in DeSoto Parish, state police said.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Dodge Ram was traveling east on a private lease road just east of La. 5 when the driver, John Watson, 23, of Centerville, drove into the path of a southbound Union Pacific freight train operated by Kenneth Charles, 59, of Humble, Texas, state police said. The truck was then struck by the train on the driver’s side door and pushedoff of the tracks, police said.
Watson as well as his passengers, Michael Ryder II, 24, of Goldonna, and Herbert Barras III, 35, of Charenton, were unrestrained at the time of the crash, police said.
Watson and Ryder were pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish coroner, police said. As of Monday, Barras was in critical condition, police said. State police learned Tuesday that Barras died during surgery, state police Sgt. Barry Spinney said this morning.
Police obtained a toxicology sample from Watson, which will be submitted for analysis, police said. However, police do not suspect impairment in the crash, the release stated. The crash remains under investigation, police said.
The wreck occurred at a crossing with no active warning devices, such as flashing lights, gates, or bells, police said. However, a railroad crossing sign and stop sign were present at the crossing, police said. State law requires motorists to yield the right of way to trains whether active warning devices are present or not, police said.
In a separate crash, at 4 a.m. today, state police Troop G officers responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on La. 177, about one mile south of I-49 that claimed the life of a New Iberia man, police said.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Leo Gaudin Jr., 88, of New Iberia was traveling south on La. 177 when, for reasons still under investigation, his vehicle veered off the right side of roadway and struck a group of trees, police said.
Gaudin, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish Coroner, police said.
Police obtained a toxicology sample from Gaudin, which they will submit for analysis. But impairment is not suspected to be a factor, police said. This crash remains under investigation, police said.