3 people die over holiday weekend in Central Louisiana vehicle crashes

Three people, two men from Avoyelles Parish and a woman from Washington, died in separate crashes over the holiday weekend in Central Louisiana, according to Louisiana State Police.

The first crash happened on Saturday night on La. Highway 1184 in the Cottonport area when Michael Normand, 40, crashed the 2013 Polaris Ranger Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) he was driving on the road, reads a news release.

The UTV hit several trees, ejecting Normand and a passenger. Neither were restrained or wearing helmets, it reads, and impairment is suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Normand, a Cottonport resident, died at the scene. The unidentified passenger suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital.

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The next crash happened on Sunday at about 6 p.m. in Rapides Parish, according to a separate news release.

Susan Castille, 70, was driving a 2022 GMC Arcadia south on La. Highway 121 near La. Highway 1200 in the Hot Wells area when she ran off the road.

Her car hit a tree and a gas meter. She was removed from the car before it caught fire, but died at the scene, reads the release.

She was not wearing a seat belt.

Also on Sunday, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a driver who later was arrested, according to a news release.

James Dibble Jr., 40, of Simmesport, was in the road when a 2014 Mazda 6 hit him on Old Highway 1, it reads.

Dibble died at the scene.

The driver, also a 40-year-old Simmesport resident, did not stop, but later was arrested and charged with felony hit and run, obstruction of justice and driving under suspension.

The crashes remain under investigation.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 2 men from Avoyelles Parish, Washington woman die in weekend crashes