LAPLACE — A St. Charles Parish man was arrested last week for vehicular homicide after authorities said drugs were found in his system in the wake of a 2015 wreck that left a LaPlace woman dead.

Marlon Pierre Jr., 24, arrested Feb. 11, is charged with causing the death of 39-year-old Joywanne Adams, who was killed Nov. 9 as the result of injuries suffered in a head-on wreck along U.S. 51.

Adams was initially taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans with critical injuries and later died following the two-vehicle crash that occurred shortly before 10 a.m.

Louisiana State Police Troop B Spokeswoman Melissa Matey said the initial investigation revealed Adams was traveling north on U.S. 51 in the left lane approaching Palmetto Drive when a 2004 GMC Envoy, driven by Pierre, of Luling was traveling south on U.S. 51.

For unknown reasons, Matey said the GMC veered across the turn lane into the path of the Nissan.

A 1-year-old rear seat occupant in Adams’ vehicle was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, along with 22-year-old Kyelajuan Bolding, another rear seat occupant who suffered moderate injuries. Pierre was taken to East Jefferson Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Matey said this week she did not have any updates on the injury statuses of the wreck’s victims, adding State Police don’t usually receive those unless additional deaths occur.  Moderate injuries, according to authorities, can be anything from broken bones to severe lacerations that may require stitches.

Matey said investigators don’t suspect alcohol was a factor in the wreck, but Pierre’s toxicology tests came back positive for drugs.

“However, they don’t suspect the drugs caused any impairment,” Matey said.

“Because of the way the law is written, if there is any amount of drugs in a person’s system, they can be charged with vehicular homicide.”

Pierre is charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended license, careless operation, negligent injuring and vehicular homicide. He posted a $76,000 bond and was released Feb. 13.

Although Pierre’s arrest concluded a three-month investigation, Matey said the case was not particularly unique.

“Our investigations on fatal crashes typically last six to eight weeks because it is a very extensive investigation,” she said. “They have to go over the entire investigation, wait for toxicology analysis to come back, look at different things on the roadway and look at anything that could have possibly been a contributing factor to that crash.”

Pierre turned himself in Feb. 11 and was released Feb. 13 after posting a $76,000 bond.

“We work with the District Attorney’s Office while we’re doing the investigation, but now that the investigation is complete we turn everything over to the District Attorney’s Office,” Matey said.