UPDATE:  State police say a Texas woman has been arrested and charged with careless operation and vehicular homicide resulting from a crash Monday night on I-10 at milepost 76 Near the Iota/Estherwood exit.  The crash took the life of 53 year old Edwin Johnson of Houston, Texas.

Police say it happened just before midnight when the driver failed to negotiate a left curve, ran off of the roadway and struck a ditch embankment.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as 27 year old Shameka Semere of Houston, TX was driving a 1997 Chrysler van eastbound on the Interstate 10 Service Road. Semere failed to negotiate a left hand curve, ran off of the roadway and struck a ditch embankment.

Semere was properly restrained and was not injured. The passenger, Edwin Johnson was not wearing a seat belt and suffered fatal injuries.  Johnson was pronounced dead on scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office.  Impairment on the part of Semere was suspected and she was given a chemical breath test.  Semere’s results indicated she was over twice the legal limit for alcohol.

Semere was arrested for Vehicular Homicide and Careless Operation.  She was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail.  This crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists of the importance of seat belt use. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a motor vehicle crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up.  Whether impaired through alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two, the consequences of driving while impaired remain the same.  Making poor decisions in a vehicle leads to serious injuries and deaths every day across the state.  Making the responsible decision can mean the difference between life and death.  Please have a plan in place to get home safely and drive sober!