A mother and her 7 year-old son died when their car struck a pickup truck on Monday. The accident happened shortly before 8:00am on Highway 1252 near Kidder Road in Lafayette Parish.

State Police Troop I say the crash claimed the life of 23 year-old Kristen Trimm of Arnaudville and her 7 year-old son Branson Taylor.  Troopers explain Trimm’s vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming pickup truck. Both mother and child were pronounced dead at the scene. “The female was seat belted and the child in the back of the vehicle was not,” explains Trooper Brooks David.

Taylor attended Grand Coteau Elementary School. The Principal Brandon Bobb says the school board’s central office will determine how he is to proceed at the school in terms of what happened. “Once we follow that protocol, we go about the grieving process as far as helping students as well as our teachers,” adds Bobb.

The principal says the death of any child is tough and especially when it happens unexpectedly. “I definitely want to express my condolences to the family and let them know if there is anything my school or staff can do, then we will do so whole-heartedly,” says Bobb.

State police say another passenger in Trimm’s car and the driver of the pickup truck were both hospitalized following the accident. Toxicology samples were taken from drivers of both vehicles to determine if impairment was involved.