An alleged drunk driving crash has taken the life of a 71-year-old man from Raceland.
According to Louisiana State Police the crash occurred on US-61 and Jackson Avenue in LaPlace around 5 o’clock in the evening.
Investigators concluded driver Earl Eschete was driving his pickup south on US-61 and approaching 23-year-old Gaspar Orduna in his pickup headed north. For reasons still under investigation, the F-250 crossed the center line, entered the southbound lane and collided head on with the F-150.
Eschete suffered life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he later died. A passenger in Eschete’s vehicle suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Orduna and a passenger in his vehicle were uninjured.
During the investigation, Orduna displayed signs of impairment and provided a breath sample which indicated a Blood Alcohol Concentration over the legal limit. Orduna was arrested and booked into the St. John Parish Jail for the following charges: vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, driving while intoxicated, reckless operation and driving the wrong way on divided highways.
