IBERIA PARISH — A husband and wife from Abbeville are dead following a crash that occurred in Iberia Parish.
On Tuesday, May 27, at approximately 5 p.m., deputies with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, Patrol Division responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash at the intersection of Rip Van Winkle Rd. and LA Highway 675.
Vermilion Parish native Kathleen Minnick is joined by her son, Kemet Okara, after she
received an SBA honor in Nevada.
Kathleen Minnick-Taylor, daughter of the late Alvin Minnick and Lizzie Como is the recipient of Nevada’s Small Business Administration Entrepreneurial Spirit award on May 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The white car stopped in a ditch after hitting the tractor (right) that was traveling in the opposite direction.
UPDATE: The name of the female driver killed has been released by the Sheriff's Office. The driver's name is Michelle Seaton. The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident.
Rylann Viator takes a photo next to the sign “SOTY” which stands for Student Of The Year.
ERATH — Last weekend provided plenty of pride for the Erath community.
While the Erath Bobcats competed for a state on the baseball field, Erath Middle School’s Rylann Viator received word that she had been named the Louisiana Department of Educations’s Middle School Student of the Year.
“I was honestly in shock!,” Viator exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe it at first. I am never speechless, but I couldn’t find the words in all the excitement. I just felt incredibly excited and thankful.
“It’s such a huge honor, and I’m still smiling about it!”
KAPLAN – On May 17, 2025, shortly after 10:00 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I were notified a single-vehicle fatality crash on Louisiana Highway 335 near Teche Road.
The crash claimed the life of 40-year-old Sommer Simon of Crowley.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2017 Ford Mustang, driven by Simon, was traveling west on LA Highway 335. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford traveled off the roadway to the left, struck multiple trees, and became fully engulfed in flames.
318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548