December 16, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Downtown Traffic Accident Claims Life

• Three others transported - one in critical condition

Four people, including one now listed as dead, were transported to local hospitals following a fatality accident at the intersection of lake Street and Spring Street this afternoon. The accident occurred around 12:30 at the downtown intersection of Lake Street and Spring Street. Allegedly, a Toyota Tercell headed west on Lake Street ran the red light at the intersection and was struck by a Chevy Tahoe traveling north on Spring Street. Early indications show the driver of the Tercell appears to have ran the red light.

When fire rescue crews arrived on the scene they found two women in the Tercell, which driver’s side was t-boned and crushed from the impact of the Tahoe, not breathing. They were cut out, both were said to have been wearing their seat belts, and treated by department paramedics and rushed to LSUMC. The driver, a 24-year-old female, was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital. The front-seat passenger, 23-year-old female, who was listed at as a trauma code (not breathing and no pulse) upon transport, was listed in critical condition at LSUMC. Both women were from Grand Prairie, Texas.

The driver of the Tahoe, Kina Moore, 26, of Vivian, and her 7-year-old daughter received minor injuries as a result of the accident. The older Moore was transported by ambulance to Christus Schumpert Medical Center for further evaluation. She is listed in good condition. Officials at the scene are crediting an off-duty Shreveport firefighter, Scott Marler, with making the best of a bad situation and preventing further harm to the patients. Marler arrived shortly after the accident happened and immediately used his vehicle to block the intersection from approaching Spring Street traffic. He then called into 911 and reported the different injuries and told responding firefighters what they were going to need at the scene. After the fire crews arrived, Marler continued to work on the two least severe patients, freeing up the other firefighters to concentrate on the victims in the Tercell. Fire officials say Marler’s actions are to be commended. ###