The community is uniting in support of several families who suffered loss this past week. Ten-year-old Sheldon “SJ” Hallman passed away Saturday morning. A few hours later his cousin was injured and two other men were killed in a traffic accident on the Red Oak Road.
Hallman was injured four years ago while on a school outing to the State Fair in Shreveport. A ride malfunction trapped the boy.
John Hallman, the boy’s grandfather, says the Wake will be Friday evening at Will of God Church and the funeral will be at noon Saturday in the gym of the old Elementary School on East Carroll Street.
Details of the auto accident that injured one person and claimed two lives were furnished to the Journal by State Police Troop G:
Red River Parish-On Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 11:10 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to one vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 480 just south of US Highway 84 that claimed the lives of two people and left one severely injured.
The preliminary investigation revealed a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria operated by 20-year-old Cedric Lewis of Coushatta was traveling north on LA 480 when for reasons still under investigation, he failed to negotiate a curve, exited the left side of the roadway, overturned, and struck a large group of trees.
Lewis as well as his passengers’ 43-year-old Ronnie Allen of Coushatta and 19-year-old Tyquinton Winn also of Coushatta was not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Lewis sustained serious injuries during the crash and was transported to University Health in Shreveport for treatment. Allen and Winn were partially ejected during the crash and sustained fatal injuries. Both Allen and Winn were pronounced dead at the scene by the Red River Parish Coroner.
Speed and restraint use are factors in this crash, but impairment is not suspected, however toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana law requires motor vehicle occupants to be properly restrained in every seating position, day and night. Wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the likelihood of being seriously injured or killed as the result of a crash and is the single most effective thing motorists can do to protect themselves.
