Update: Vehicular homicide suspect moved to St. John Parish
Published 12:52 pm Friday, April 26, 2019
- Dustin Brewer
LAPLACE — A Houma man was moved to custody in St. John the Baptist Parish this week, charged by authorities with operating his vehicle in a narcotics-charged manner, leading to a head-on collision and death of a fellow motorist.
Dustin Brewer, 21, turned himself in to the investigating Louisiana State Police trooper Wednesday and was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center as a fugitive from St. John the Baptist Parish.
He was extradited the same day, charged with vehicular homicide, careless operation and no seat belt charges.
He was still in jail as of Friday morning, under a No 10 percent, $50,500 bond.
Louisiana State Police Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange said the crash in question took place Oct. 13, 2018, and authorities believed Brewer was impaired.
“A search warrant was obtained for Brewer’s medical records during his treatment, and he was found to be under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crash,” LaGrange said Wednesday.
Police reported the crash as a head-on collision that also involved victim Hubert Nicholas Jr., 74, of Gonzales.
Nicholas died Oct. 24 as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, according to State Police.
Louisiana State Police’s crash investigation indicates Brewer was driving a Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Louisiana 3213 in Wallace at approximately 9:40 p.m. when he traveled through a right curve, crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane.
Nicholas was traveling north on Louisiana 3213 in a Ford F-150 when he saw Brewer in his lane.
Authorities said Nicholas steered to the right in an attempt to avoid Brewer, but they collided on the northbound shoulder head-on.
Nicholas was properly restrained and taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans by Acadian Ambulance Service.
Brewer was not restrained and suffered moderate injuries. He was also taken to University Medical Center by Acadian Ambulance Service.
LaGrange confirmed to L’OBSERVATEUR that a release was not sent out upon Nicholas’ death but did not respond to a follow-up question as to why.
