Plaquemine Police not responsible for fatal crash along La. 1, district attorney says

The Plaquemine Police Department is not responsible the accident resulting from a pursuit that took the life of a driver April 13 in a crash on La. 1 in Port Allen, according to District Attorney Tony M. Clayton.

“It doesn’t look like it’s going to be any criminal actions on behalf of the cops,” Clayton said. “As for the defendant driver, that was on him. He assumed the own risk, and he initiated it. He started it, and he caused it.”

The crash at the intersection of La. 1 and La. 3237 took the life of Johnathan Williams, 34.

The Plaquemine Police Department shift sergeant ordered officers to terminate the chase before the collision, according to Plaquemine Police Chief Stephen Engolio.

Officers acted in compliance with the Plaquemine Police Department’s policy and procedure when they initiated lights and sirens in their attempt to stop the vehicle, the police chief said.

“This was one of those unfortunate deals,” he said. “I hate that it ended that way, but we did everything we were supposed to do.

“We did everything within policy, and our guys were very careful – as careful as they could possibly be – which was verified by the video, but still it shows that these things are dangerous. You can do everything wrong and get hurt, and you can do everything right and get hurt. It’s unfortunately a necessary evil of what we have to do and we can be careful, but even when you’re careful, something like that is dangerous.”

Williams was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe north on LA 1, according to the preliminary investigation.  As part of an investigation, officers from the Plaquemine Police Department initiated a traffic stop with the Tahoe on La. 1 North.

According to the LSP investigation, Williams refused to stop and began to drive recklessly and at a high rate of speed in his attempt to evade officers.  

As Williams approached the intersection of La. 3237, a 2022 Dodge Ram was traveling west on La. 3237, making a left turn onto La. 1 North.

Williams traveled through the intersection while a red signal light was displayed. The front of the Tahoe impacted the rear side of the Ram. After the initial impact, the Tahoe rotated, exited the roadway and overturned.

The pursuit stemmed from a call the Plaquemine Police Department received from a woman at approximately 7:45 p.m. regarding a domestic violence situation in which she said her estranged boyfriend knocked the window out of car, according to Engolio.

At approximately 7:51 p.m., Plaquemine Police officers observed the suspect vehicle on La. 1 in the north end of Plaquemine.

The suspect began fleeing the area even before the officers began pursuit of the vehicle, presumably after seeing the patrol car, according to Engolio.