L’Observateur / November 10, 2000

NORCO – Two people died on Interstate 10 near the Bonnet Carre Spillway Wednesday night after being struck by a vehicle driven by a co-worker.

Another passenger ended up charged with kidnapping.

Louisiana State Police Troop B reported that four men and a woman were westbound on I-10 at about 11:15 p.m. when an argument began and one ofthe couples was put out of the car after an evening of drinking in New Orleans.

When driver Marilyn Joyce Apgar, 36, of Prairieville pulled onto the shoulder, Jody Lance Murray, 25, of Leesville, and David Joseph Parra, 23, no hometown provided, got out of the 1988 Buick LeSabre.

Passenger Danny Brister told investigators the two said they would walk and eventually meet the others at a truck stop in LaPlace.

However, one of the victims was instead struck by the Buick while standing in the roadway, and the other was struck when the car veered to the right.

At that point, investigators added, Joseph Graham forced Brister at gunpoint to drive the car toward Hammond on Interstate 55. When theystopped for gas Brister was able to alert Hammond police and Graham was arrested.

The investigation is continuing and more charges may stem from the incident. Further information was not available at press time.

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