DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / September 13, 2000

VACHERIE – With the first serious rain in so many dry days came some very serious accidents in St. James Parish. By the end of Friday nine accidentsranging from a head-on fatality to fender benders across the parish occurred.

On Interstate 10 just after 7 a.m. a 1996 Dodge Dakota, driven by CharlesHair III, 53, crossed the median into east bound traffic. Tomas Duque, 33,driving a 1997 Ford F350 crew cab, hit Hair broadside. Driving behind Duquein a 1997 Volvo, Amanda Kelley, 25, ran into the back of Duque’s Ford. Alldrivers were from Baton Rouge.

Hair was pronounced dead on the scene, said Louisiana State Police Trooper Douglas Cain. Duque was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, andKelley was transported to Charity Hospital in New Orleans, both with moderate injuries.

The cause for Hair crossing over the median is unknown, said Cain.

Soon after the I-10 fatality Sandra Himel of Vacherie was traveling down Louisiana Highway 20 from Thibodaux when her car lost control and overturned in Bayou Chevreuil.

Himel, 48, was returning home from dropping her son, Shelby Himel III, of at work.

Trooper Matt Trahan of the Louisiana State Police reported that Himel’s 1994 Mazda 929 was northbound on La. 20 when it left the roadway to theright. The vehicle apparently over-corrected, swerved to the left, leaving theroadside to flip on its rooftop in the bayou.

After seeing the accident other drivers stopped to assist Himel and were able to flip the partially submerged car back over. Trahan was unsure howdeep the water is in that section of the bayou but stated that it can be deep enough to cover a vehicle.

Once the Mazda was righted, those who stopped began first aid on Himel.

Trahan reported that Himel had been under water for 10 to 15 minutes.

An Acadian Ambulance crew resuscitated Himel as they were transporting her to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.

St. James and Lafourche parish sheriff’s deputies and the VacherieVolunteer Fire Department responded to the accident.

Her son, Shawn, reported that his mother had been wearing her seatbelt, which she did as a rule. There was no alcohol involved, reported Trahan.Currently Himel is in critical care, said Shawn Himel. There has been slightimprovement since the accident, he added.

Also Friday a St. James High school student was returning home when shelost control of her vehicle. St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin reportedthat the girl heard a noise from beneath the vehicle. A moment later thewheels locked up, causing her to veer into the levee and overturn her car.

The student was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries.

Six other accidents occurred throughout the course of the day, with more over the weekend.

“Many don’t realize how slick that first rain is after a dry spell,” said Martin.

With cars constantly dripping oil and other slick liquids, on top of general dirt and grime covering the road, the first few hours of a rain can be much more dangerous than an all-day rain, he added.

The record heat over the summer can also do unseen damage to the road itself. New pot holes and dips in the road can gather water where it neverpooled before. The usual stretch you drive can suddenly have new hazardsthat you aren’t used to, said Martin.

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