By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

CONVENT – It is a common practice for the St. James Parish Council to offer resolutions of condolences for parish residents when a family member passes away. On Wednesday, the council made such a resolution for Parish President Timmy Roussel.

All seven members of the council motioned and seconded the resolution offering condolences to the Roussel family following the sudden death of Roussel’s daughter in-law Amber Roussel, who is married to Roussel’s son Ryan Roussel.

On Monday, Amber and Ryan Roussel, residents of Geismar, were traveling to Houston when they were involved in a car accident on Interstate 10 near Beaumont, Texas. According to Beaumont Police, the driver of a white pick-up truck was driving erratically when he lost control of his vehicle in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10.

The truck went airborne and crashed into the concrete divider with the front part of the truck ending up on top of the divider between the eastbound and westbound lanes. Minutes later a westbound vehicle then struck the front of the truck causing the “brush guard” style bumper of the truck to fly off and hit a third vehicle, which was carrying the Roussels.

The bumper hit the right side of the vehicle, where Amber Roussel, 31, was sitting. She died at the scene. Ryan Roussel was treated for minor injuries.

A memorial fund for Roussel was set up this week with the goal of raising $3,000 for Ryan Roussel and the couple’s two children, Emmie, 3, and Ryan, 1. The fund has accumulated more than $44,000 as of Friday. Anyone interested in contributing to the fund can go to www.indiegogo.com/AmberRoussel.

The site will be open until Aug. 14.

Services were held yesterday in Gonzales.