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ERATH – Shortly before 3:45 p.m. on June 18, Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Highway 339 near Pickett Road in Vermilion Parish.
The crash claimed the life of 17-year-old Caroline Claire Toups of Erath.
The preliminary investigation by State Police revealed Toups was a front passenger in a 2006 Cadillac CTS being driven East on Pickett Road. The Cadillac was struck on the passenger side by a northbound 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup. It was determined by investigators that the driver of the Cadillac, whose name is being withheld due to her age, failed to yield at a stop sign as she attempted to cross over LA 339 from Pickett Road.
Despite being restrained, Toups died at the scene due to the severity of the crash. The driver of the Cadillac was properly restrained and was transported to an area hospital critical injures. The driver of the pickup was restrained and suffered only minor injuries.
While impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were obtained from both drivers for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Take an extra few seconds and look both ways twice before proceeding forward from a stop sign can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop I has investigated 23 fatal crashes resulting in 26 deaths in 2020.

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Dolores Lange Tipper,81, will be at 1:00PM Friday, June 19, 2020 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Andrew Killeen officiating. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be in David Funeral Home of Erath Friday, June 19, 2020 from 8:30AM until service time with recitation of the rosary at 11:00AM.
Dolores passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in her residence surrounded by her family. Dolores will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. She loved gardening and anything having to do with being outside. She loved baking and cooking big Sunday meals for her family. Of course, she was known for all her homemade desserts.
She is survived by her son, Brian Tipper and wife Susan of Erath, her two daughters, Kathleen Gaspard and husband Dave of Abbeville, and Darlene Knight and husband Cecil of Erath; 9 grandchildren, Jake Tipper, Julianne Tipper, Kristy Sumners and husband Jerid, Cody Knight and wife Lindsey, Nicolas Knight, Jedd Knight, Lauren Trahan and husband Logan, Taylor Hebert and husband Aaron, and Lexi Gaspard; 10 great grandchildren, Jerid Sumners Jr., Logan Sumners, Madison Sumners, Andrew Knight, Allie Knight, Jayden Hebert, Brylen Hebert, Kaylee Hebert, Kynlie Trahan and Luke Trahan; her sisters, Hazel Broussard, Frances Primeaux, Willie Mae Cornner, and Gloria Mae Menard,
She is preceded in death by her husband , James Tipper; her parents Sidney and Henrietta Lange,; sister, Audrey Ann Champagne; brothers, Nelson Lange, Howard Lange, Lester Lange, Preston Lange, Minos Lange, J.C. Lange, and June Lange.
Serving as her Pallbearers will be Brian Tipper, Jake Tipper, Nicolas Knight, Jerid Sumners Jr., Kurt Primeaux, and Daleon Primeaux.
Serving as her Honorary Pallbearers will be Cody Knight and Jedd Knight.
Special thanks to Dr. Michael Cain, Community Hospice Care, and a very special nurse, Karen for all the gentle care she gave our mother and the comfort and support she provided to us.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath is in charge of arrangements 209 E. Putnam St. Erath, LA 70533 (337) 937-0405.

Ryan Hargrave, a Kaplan native, led police on a car chase from Abbeville to New Iberia, and ended up exchanging gunfire with different police departments.
Hargrave, 56, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, unlawful use of body armor, aggravated flight from an officer and threatening a public official.
Law enforcement officials from multiple agencies, including Abbeville and New Iberia Police, Abbeville City Marshal, and Vermilion and Iberia Sheriff’s Offices, were involved in the chase.
According to the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, he was processed into the jail early Wednesday. Bail is set at $190,000. He was hit by gunfire in the exchange but was later released from the hospital that night.

How it began

On Tuesday at approximately 6:15 p.m. officers of the Abbeville Police Department received information via radio from the Abbeville City Marshal’s Office concerning a subject pointing a handgun at another person.
Officers responded to the scene and began pursuing the suspect, who fled the scene with the Marshal giving chase.
Officers pursued the suspect into New Iberia at a residence. Other law enforcement agencies had joined the pursuit.
An investigation into the initial complaint has determined that Hargrave was allegedly stopped in the middle of the roadway on Peace Street in Abbeville, and the victim, who was on St. Charles Street, acknowledged that Hargrave had the right-of-way, stopped his vehicle and let Hargrave proceed.
Hargrave allegedly did not move, so the victim proceeded.
Hargarve allegedly then began following the victim, and the victim later pulled off of the roadway into a parking lot and stopped his vehicle.
The suspect followed the victim into the parking lot and exited his vehicle.
The suspect approached the victim’s vehicle while wearing a ballistic vest with a handgun tucked into the front of the vest.
Hargrave allegedly began yelling and cursing at the victim.
The Abbeville City Marshal, seeing the individual yelling, pulled up behind the suspect. The Marshal then observed the suspect pointing the handgun at the victim. The suspect then got into his vehicle and attempted to flee, and the Marshal gave chase and radioed the Abbeville Police Department.
According to a Louisiana State police spokesman, Hargrave fired at police after they pursued him to his home at the corner of Alameda and Santa Clara streets after 6 p.m.
The Daily Iberian newspaper reported he was hit during the exchange when multiple officers returned fire. It is not known which agencies the officers returning fire worked for.
The Iberian reported that Hargrave was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries, then put under observation at a local hospital.
According to neighbors, the Iberian reported Hargarve exchanged fire with officers after the pursuit ended at Alameda Street. One neighbor said he had tried to run over an officer before coming to a stop, the newspaper said.
Hargrave is the same man who was involved in a standoff at the Alameda Street residence on May 5 in New Iberia. That incident was resolved after several hours without any gunfire.

ABBEVILLE – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Jo Moss Nunez, 79 will be held at Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 1:00PM.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home in Abbeville at 9:00AM on that same day until the time of services with a recitation of the Rosary at 11:30AM.
A native of New Iberia, LA and resident of Abbeville, LA, Mary passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020 at her residence after a lengthy illness. She was retired as a banking professional and enjoyed her later years as a homemaker with a love for dancing, card playing and various other rosary and social groups.
She is survived by her daughters, Vanessa Nunez of Abbeville, Angela Gallagher of Morgan City, and Jodi Hulin (husband Paul) of Maurice; her grandchildren Kelly Jordan (husband Jameson), Megan Boden (husband Bradley), Madison Baugher, Joshua Ditch (wife Jayde), Jacques Hulin; her great-grandchildren Kameron Jordan, Jack Ditch and Joah Ditch; her brother J.W. Moss (wife Christie), her sisters Barbara Ronsonet, Virginia Harvey, Betty Cornet and Ellen West (husband Michael).
She was preceded in death by her husband Daniel James Nunez, and parents Jonathan W. Moss and Rosa DeRouen.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home, 2600 Charity St, Abbeville LA (337) 893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.