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IBERIA PARISH – At approximately 8:50 p.m. on April 2, 2020, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a fatality crash involving a pedestrian on the La Hwy 14 near Leleux Road in Iberia Parish. The crash took the life of 27-year-old Tarvis Coates of New Iberia.
The preliminary investigation revealed the crash occurred as Coates was walking in the westbound inside lane of La Hwy 14. At the same time, 24-year-old Brittni Hernadez of New Iberia was driving westbound on La Hwy 14 in a 2011 Ford Fusion. As Coates was walking in the westbound lane of travel, he was struck by the Fusion.
Coates was pronounced deceased on scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment is not suspected, but standard toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis from, both, Hernadez and Coates. Hernadez was properly restrained and was uninjured. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near or on roadways. Pedestrians must assume that approaching motorists cannot see them, especially at night. Louisiana law states, under Revised Statute 32: 216. B. Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the highway or its shoulder, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. Furthermore, Troopers want to remind motorists that making good choices such as never driving while impaired and avoiding all distractions can often help prevent many pedestrian related crashes.
Troop I has investigated 9 fatal crashes resulting in 11 deaths in 2020.

DELCAMBRE - Who murdered Wrigley?
Recently, there was a murder on Country Drive, a dead-end street, located next to Landry Park in Delcambre.
Thursday morning, deputies from the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office were searching for the killer. They spent the morning questioning those who live on Country Drive.
They were searching for anyone who heard a gun shot last Friday. Wrigley was found dead on Tuesday, floating in a drainage ditch that flowed into the Delcambre Canal at the end of Country Drive. He was murdered less than a mile from his house. A necropsy was done on Wrigley, and medical officials found bullet fragments in Wrigley’s head. He was killed execution-style.
The Broussard family in Delcambre was heartbroken when they learned how Wrigley was killed. They are now offering a $3,000 reward for anyone who knows who killed Wrigley.
“Wrigley was a part of our family,” said Hollie Broussard. “He was supposed to grow up with my children.”
Wrigley was a three-year-old Goldendoodle dog. A Goldendoodle is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.
Phillip and Hollie Broussard, and their three children, took Wrigley into their lives three years ago. They spent hundreds of dollars training the dog to live with them. Certain times of the day, Wrigley would be let outside to go do his business, and the dog would make his way back to the door to let the Broussards know he was ready to come back into the house.
Last week, Hollie, who is working at home, let Wrigley outside to do his business. After a while, she noticed he never returned to the door. She got the three children dressed, and they all went outside to look for their beloved pet. No Wrigley.
They began searching up and down the street and then expanded their search to south of Delcambre and into the town of Delcambre. Still, no Wrigley.
Hollie began to panic and feared the worst. Wrigley was lost. He wandered far from the house and could not find his way back. She called her parents in Franklin for help to locate Wrigley. The next day, family and friends began to search. They made posters and scattered them throughout the parish. “Bring Wrigley Home” was the headline on the poster and yard signs.
On Sunday, Hollie and family walked down Country Drive again and went to the end of the road. They saw what they thought were two dead deer floating in a drainage canal so they hey left. On Tuesday, Hollie received a phone call from someone who said they might have found Wrigley. What Hollie thought were deer, were not. One may have been a deer but the other was Wrigley.
Devastated seeing her fourth child floating in a drainage ditch, she called her dad and brother, who live in Franklin, for help to remove him. They rushed over and removed Wrigley.
She did not sugar coat telling her children about what happened to Wrigley. She told them the truth.
The Broussards called the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office because they knew someone murdered Wrigley. She wanted to be 100 percent certain Wrigley been shot and killed. A necropsy (dog autopsy) was done, and it was determined Wrigley died as a result of a gunshot to the back of his head.
That did not sit too well with the Broussards.
“I just want justice,” said Hollie. “I realize Wrigley is an animal and not a human, but someone needs to be arrested and charged with a crime.” Hollie plans to file a civil suit against the person who shot and killed Wrigley.
Like losing a loved one, the Broussard family is still grieving about the death of Wrigley. His bowl of food and water remain on the floor where it has always been. Someone is missing in their lives this morning. It is Wrigley.
“Who would do this?” she said.

September 8, 1955 ~ April 1, 2020

ABBEVILLE — Graveside services will be held honoring the life of Richard Wayne Upton, 64, who died Wednesday, April 1, 2020. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Keith Duhon officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Richard Heath Upton, Drake Upton, Tracy Clark, Brennan Clark, Paxton Gardiner, and Barney Prejean. Honorary pallbearers will be Asa Mark Upton and Matt Carloss.
Ricky was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. A proud man dedicating his life to a major oilfield company to provide for his family, Ricky retired from Shell Oil Company with 38 years of service.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jalane G. Upton; his son, Richard Heath Upton and his wife, Adrea of Maurice; his daughter, Kourtnie U. Gardiner of Maurice; his brother, Gene Upton and his wife, Joanie of Baton Rouge; and six grandchildren, Aly Zumbek, Mallie Gardiner, Drake Upton, Annison Gardiner, Paxton Gardiner, and Asa Mark Upton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie J. Upton and the former Helen Broussard; his twin sons, Richard Christopher Upton and Ryan Heath Upton; his sister, Gail Dore; his parents-in-law, John and Wanda Guilbeau; and his brother-in-law, Chris Guilbeau.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Mayor Mark Piazza and the Abbeville City Council are monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
As of noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, there are now 10 confirmed cases and one death in Vermilion Parish. We ask members of our community to follow Governor’s John Bel Edwards stay at home order. This order is based on federal guidelines and recommendations from medical experts. Please stay home when possible, practice social distancing when you must go out and use proper sanitary practices such as hand washing. If you must visit a retailer for necessities, please adhere to the one person, 1 cart rule. Do not bring additional persons with you to the store. It is also important to avoid gatherings both public and private. This is a growing pandemic and the threat is far from over. We are the first line of defense in the fight against this virus. Please follow the orders and recommendations put in place in the interest of public and personal safety.
The City of Abbeville has a curfew in place for adults and minors. This curfew prohibits and/or controls non-essential pedestrian and vehicular traffic between the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
If you are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please call 337-892-6999 from 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM for mandatory pre-screening.
You may also call your primary care physician, local walk-in clinic or 534-TEST (8378) for screening.