Authorities said speeding led to a fatal wreck late Friday night that involved two vehicles and five people on Interstate 10 in St. Charles Parish.

That wreck took place less than 48 hours after another tragic collision in St. Charles Parish, this one involving a fatal hit and run that claimed the life of a St. Rose woman Thanksgiving morning.

The two River Region fatal wrecks that took place during the holiday week represent two too many, but unfortunately, it was only a drop in the bucket when it came to South Louisiana.

Last week was particularly fatal as Louisiana State Police investigated a series of devastating wrecks.

• Shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday, Troopers began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Louisiana 40 in Livingston Parish. The crash took the life of 39-year-old Harold D. Conatser of Independence.

• Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, Troopers began investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash that claimed the life of a Morgan City woman on Louisiana 662 in Assumption Parish. 

• Shortly after 5:15 a.m. on Nov. 26, Troopers began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on I-10 in Ascension Parish. The crash took the life of 27-year-old Brandon Jamal Guillory of Baton Rouge.

• Shortly before 5:30 a.m. Nov. 24, Troopers began investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a 28-year-old man from Thibodaux on Louisiana 24 in Terrebonne Parish. 

• At approximately 7:20 p.m. Nov. 23, Troopers began investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred on Louisiana 1064 in Tangipahoa Parish, claiming the life of the driver’s father.

• Shortly before 1 a.m. Nov. 24, Troopers began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash that claimed the life of a Napoleonville woman on Louisiana 1 in Lafourche Parish. 

Eight people died in less than a week. If these deaths were attributed to a disease, we would call it an epidemic.

As it is, it was just the roster account of South Louisiana wrecks, and too many people will simply shrug their shoulders and drive on by.

State Police told L’OBSERVATEUR that in the week leading up to Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving week, authorities worked 12 fatal wrecks statewide that took likes of 18 people, 15 of which were not wearing seat belts.

When a news bulletin is sent out by Louisiana State Police, many times Troopers tag the information with a plea to remind motorists not to drive impaired, not to ride with an impaired driver, to always buckle up and avoid all distractions while driving.

Research and statistics prove crashes are very preventable and occur as the result of irresponsible decisions behind the wheel, police say.

Louisiana law requires every driver and occupant to be properly restrained at all times in any vehicle.

Authorities ask motorists that witness erratic or suspicious driving behavior to notify police. Doing so just might save some lives, of which we have lost too many.