Man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide in crash that killed Liner

NAPOLEONVILLE (AP) — Prosecutors say the Pierre Part man accused of driving under the influence of painkillers and killing former Berwick High School homecoming king and LSU student Miles Liner has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide.
District Attorney Ricky Babin said Yancy Hebert, 48, entered the plea Monday and was sentenced to 10 years in prison by state District Judge Thomas Kliebert Jr. Hebert had been set for trial Wednesday in Napoleonville.
State police reported Hebert’s pickup drifted across the center line of La. 70 in the Pierre Part area and crashed head-on into a car driven by Liner, 21, who died two days later at a hospital.
Babin said Wednesday that tests showed Hebert was under the influence of painkillers at the time of the October 2012 fatal crash in Assumption Parish.
Hebert was traveling east in a 2002 Chevy Silverado on La. 70 near Shell Beach Road in Belle River when he attempted to pass another vehicle traveling east, Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack said in a news release after the wreck. Before he finished the maneuver, he hit the 2006 Nissan Sentra Liner was driving westbound head-on, Waguespack said.
“Due to driver error and intoxication, Mr. Hebert’s truck drifted completely across the center line into the westbound lane and struck Mr. Liner’s vehicle head-on. Both vehicles then veered off the roadway to the north where they came to rest,” a news release stated. Hebert displayed obvious signs of intoxication and submitted to blood and urine tests, the news release stated.
Also injured in the accident was Taylor Adams, a former Berwick High School homecoming queen. The two high school sweethearts were returning from college to take part in Berwick High School’s homecoming pep rally.
Seat belts were worn by all occupants. Liner sustained critical injuries and was taken to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center by Acadian Ambulance’s AirMed. Adams sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City by Acadian Ambulance. Hebert sustained minor injuries and was taken to Teche Regional by a trooper, according to a news release.
Liner, who turned 21 that week, played football and baseball in high school. Adams, 20, was the cheerleading captain. Both were in the drama club and honor students. Liner attended Louisiana State University, while Adams attended Our Lady of the Lake, both in Baton Rouge.