NEWS

Man charged with DWI after crash with deputy

Deidre Cruse

SAFETY MEASURES WORK...An Iberville Sheriff’s deputy was shaken up and bruised after a driver crossed the center lane and hit his patrol car head on in a wreck on the Eastside. Deputy Billy Pourciau was taken by Air Med to a Baton Rouge hospital, but released several hours later. It could have been much worse if the deputy had not been wearing his seatbelt, and if his patrol car had not been equipped with an air bag, Chief Criminal Deputy Stephen Engolio said. The driver of the truck that hit Pourciau refused medical treatment and was booked on DWI and other charges.

The Louisiana State Police arrested a Baton Rouge man on a first offense of driving while intoxicated and other charges after a head-on collision with an Iberville Parish Sheriff’s deputy Sunday on La. 75 on the Eastside, Maj. Johnny Blanchard said.

Deputy Billy Pourciau’s seat belt and the air bag in his patrol car protected him from serious injury, Chief Criminal Deputy Stephen Engolio said.

Pourciau, bruised and shaken up, was taken by Acadian Ambulance Air Med to Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge, but was released early Monday, said Blanchard, head of the sheriff’s uniformed patrol.

Craig E. David, 45, of 1356 Flora Lane, Baton Rouge, refused medical treatment at the scene and was taken to the Iberville Parish Jail where he was booked for DWI, negligent vehicular injury, reckless operation and violation of a no-passing zone, the major said.

Blanchard said David, driving a Nissan Frontier pick-up truck crossed the center line inn a curve near La. 3115 and hit Pourciau’s patrol car.

Pourciau was on his way to answer a call, but was not using his lights and sirens, he said, noting substantial damage to the deputy’s patrol car.