Man faces 3rd DWI, vehicular homicide charge

A Morgan City man was ejected from an overturned vehicle and died in a 3:30 a.m. single-vehicle crash near Patterson High School and the driver is facing a vehicular homicide charge along with his third-offense DWI, according to state police.
Auturo Garcia, 32, of Patterson, was impaired when he crossed the centerline on La. 182 and traveled off the left side of the road, with the vehicle overturning after it entered the ditch and ejected the driver and his passenger, Misael Garcia, 24, of Morgan City, state police spokesman Tfc. Stephan Hammons said in a news release.
Auturo Garcia, who was not a licensed driver, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer west on La. 182 when the accident occurred, the release stated. Neither occupant was wearing seat belts, state police said.
Hammons did not know if the two men were related.
Misael Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Mary Parish Coroner, Hammons said in the release.
Auturo Garcia was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and will be booked into the St. Mary Parish Jail for driving while intoxicated - third offense, vehicular homicide, careless operation, no seat belt and no driver’s license, Hammons said.
Toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted to the State Police Crime Lab for analysis, the release stated.
This crash remains under investigation.
Impairment and lack of seat belt use continues to be leading factors in fatal crashes throughout Acadiana, Hammons said. Wearing a seat belt properly can greatly reduce a person’s risk of injury in most crashes, he added.