FEBRUARY 17, 2015
LONGSTREET, DESOTO PARISH, LOUISIANA
A third man has died as the result of injuries sustained in
a train-truck collision Monday, confirmed Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle.
Herbert Barras III, 35, of Charenton, was transported from
the crash scene to University Health. He died overnight, Arbuckle said.
Barras was a passenger in pickup truck driven by John
Watson, 23, of Centerville. Michael Ryder II, 25, of Goldonna, was a passenger.
Both died at the scene.
The crash took place around 1 p.m. on a private lease road
off state Highway 5 that leads to an oilfield site. The railroad crossing is
not marked with lights, gates or bells but does have cross bucks and a stop
sign.
Watson, driving a 2001 Dodge Ram, was traveling east and
pulled into the path of a southbound Union Pacific freight train operated by
Kenneth Charles, 59, of Humble, Texas. The truck was hit at the driver's side
door and pushed off the tracks.
Watson, Ryder and Barras were unrestrained. A routine
toxicology sample was obtained from Watson and will be submitted for analysis
but impairment is not suspected, state police said.