By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

NORCO – The family members of Daniel K. Roussel III, who was killed in an automobile accident last week in Norco, have decided to set up a memorial fund in his honor to aid the youth of St. Charles Parish.

“It was a sudden and tragic accident. I thought we could pull something positive from the tragedy,” said Mary Ventura, Roussel’s aunt.

Ventura said the fact that about 750 people showed up to pay their respects to Roussel last week demonstrated the “impact the young man had on the community.”

Donations to the Daniel K.Roussel III Memorial Fund may be made at any Capital One branch. Ventura said she is not yet sure what form the aid produced by the memorial fund will take yet, but it will be something different than the programs already present in the parish. The funds collected will not be disbursed to other St. Charles charities, but instead will be used to create something new for the youth of St. Charles Parish.

She noted that at Roussel’s funeral, many of the guests donned wristbands that read, “Buckle Up For Daniel.” She said the program created may be related to that cause in some way. Roussel was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Ventura said the family is in the process of setting up a website or Facebook page for the fund, but nothing has been completed yet.