Louisiana State Trooper

Ride with an impaired driver; buy a ticket to your own funeral

LAKE ARTHUR, LA – A Lake Arthur man was arrested last night for vehicular homicide after the vehicle he was driving crashed, resulting in the death of an unrestrained passenger.

On November 14, 2015, at 12:38 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a single-vehicle crash on Broadmore Road near Trailer Town Road about ½ mile north of Lake Arthur in Jefferson Davis Parish. The initial investigation revealed a 2004 Toyota pickup truck was traveling north on Broadmore Road when the driver, 29-year-old Robert Leleux II of Lake Arthur, lost control of the vehicle. Once he began to lose control, Leleux overcorrected causing the vehicle to flip.

Brandon Whitlow killed by Robert Leleux II in DWI crash in Louisiana 111415

One of the passengers, 26-year-old Brandon J. Whitlow of Lake Arthur, was ejected from the vehicle. Whitlow was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson Davis Parish Coroner’s Office. Another passenger in the vehicle received minor injuries.

Leleux received moderate injuries and received treatment at an area hospital. He was then booked into the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, DWI, careless operation, and failure to wear a seat belt.

Impairment and excessive speed are suspected factors in the crash. A toxicology sample was obtained from Leleux and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

Last night, Troop D arrested 8 people in our area for DWI including 6 at a DWI checkpoint in Calcasieu Parish. We will continue to work hard to remove impaired drivers from our roadways but ask individuals to help by doing whatever they can to prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. We also encourage anyone who observes an impaired driver to dial *LSP (*577) to report the driver to Louisiana State Police or to contact local law enforcement.

Louisiana law requires vehicle occupants to be properly restrained in all seating positions, day and night. Wearing a seat belt on every trip, whether it’s short or long, is the most effective thing motorists can do to protect themselves in the event of a crash. Motorists are encouraged to always make the smart choice and to wear their seat belt.

Troop D has investigated 27 fatal crashes resulting in 29 fatalities this year.