L’Observateur / June 1, 1998

WALLACE – A Gonzales man died in a single-vehicle accident Wednesday morning while on his way to work when he flipped his Nissan into the ditch and was ejected.

Demetric Wright, 27, 1214 West Louisiana Highway 30 Apt. 3, Gonzales,was eastbound on River Road between Whitney and Evergreen plantations at 6:10 a.m. when, according to witnesses, he tried to pass an 18-wheeler.”It happened so fast, just a split-second,” Gerald Gaudia of Wallace said, emphasizing his words with a finger-snap.

“He went to pass,” Jamie Acy of Gonzales added. “He almost hit him(Gaudia), swerved away and lost control.”After the 1987 Nissan struck a roadside sign, Wright over-compensated, struck the ditch and flipped end over end. “With a seat belt, he might’vemade it,” commented Acy.

Wright was pronounced dead at the scene by St. John Parish Coroner Dr.Christy Montegut at 7:25 a.m. The accident slowed River Road traffic formore than two hours.

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