February 15, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Children Seriously Injured in Afternoon Accident

A two-car collision shortly before noon today sent five people to the hospital, including four children - two in serious condition.

Firefighters received the call reporting the accident at East Olive and Youree Drive at 11:48 a.m. from passing motorists, one saying that "children were laying outside of the vehicles and bleeding." When the first crews arrived, they found two of the children lying on the ground and the driver sitting on the curb. Two other children from the same vehicle, all said to be between eight and nine years old, were trapped in the back seat of a late model Pontiac Grand Prix. Fire Officers on the scene, recognizing the magnitude and severity of the incident, immediately called for extra fire and paramedic crews to assist in treating and transporting the injured.

The accident occurred when the Grand Prix, driven by Donna Stephens of Shreveport, went to turn onto East Olive from northbound Youree Drive. Stephens reportedly had a green light but not an arrow when making the turn across the southbound lane of Youree and onto East Olive. The Grand Prix was struck broadside by a F-350 Super Duty Ford pickup, driven by Larry Evans of West Monroe, traveling south on Youree. The high speed impact crushed the passenger side of the Grand Prix and sent both vehicles into the west side service road off Youree Drive.

The four children, all dressed alike in khaki and white school uniforms and riding in the back seat, struck each other as well as components on the inside of the car, causing their multiple injuries. The two children initially found on the ground had excited the vehicle after the accident. Department paramedics quickly triaged the children and adult drivers, establishing a priority for those needing rapid treatment and transport. The children, and Stephens, who was the mother of two of the children, were all transported to LSUHSC. The driver of the truck was evaluated by paramedics at the scene but not transported to the hospital. Contact Shreveport Police for traffic citation information: 673-6935. ###