L’Observateur / November 2, 1998

EDGARD – A Vacherie man died Wednesday morning near Edgard, the victim of that morning’s heavy ground fog.

Louisiana State Police Troop C reported that Dale Lecompte, 39, succumbed to his injuries when his 1994 Ford Tempo struck the rear of a stopped 1998 Freightliner 18-wheeler at 7:22 a.m.The truck, driven by Gary Vail, 38, of Crowley, was stopped due to an earlier accident on Louisiana Highway 3127, 350 feet west of its intersection with Louisiana Highway 640.

Vail was out of the truck’s cab at the time of the rear-end collision to check on the progress of St. John sheriff’s deputies clearing up thehighway from the earlier accident.

Lecompte was flown from the scene by Acadian Ambulance’s Air-Med helicopter to Thibodaux General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:57 a.m. by Dr. John Tosh.Heavy fog was cited by state troopers to the cause of the accident. Vail isnot charged in the accident. Lecompte was reported to have worn his seatbelt, yet it did not prevent his fatal injuries.

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