A pre-dawn crash at a rural Iberia Parish roundabout has left a Franklin man dead and a Jeanerette driver facing a slate of serious charges after what state police say was a hit-and-run that turned deadly.
The single-vehicle wreck unfolded shortly after 4:30 a.m. on June 28, when a pickup truck overturned while leaving the roundabout at LA Highway 320 and LA Highway 86. Passenger Marteilan Mitchell, 24, of Franklin was partially ejected from the vehicle and later died from his injuries. Investigators say the driver bolted from the scene but was eventually tracked down and arrested.
Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I said the overturned truck was a 2021 Ram 1500 and that emergency crews arrived to find Mitchell suffering from severe injuries. According to KQKI News, investigators believe the driver left the crash site before first responders got there and that the truck flipped while exiting the roundabout.
In a post, Louisiana State Police (Facebook) identified the driver as Mason Couvillier of Jeanerette and said he was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail on charges that include felony hit-and-run, reckless operation, open container and failure to wear a seat belt. The agency added that an anonymous tip helped lead troopers to Couvillier and that the investigation is still ongoing.
Investigation and charges
On June 29 authorities were notified that Mitchell had died from the injuries he suffered in the June 28 crash, and Troop I said additional charges could be on the table as detectives continue to gather evidence. KQKI News reported the confirmation of Mitchell's death and the ongoing nature of the probe.
Trooper Monique Lavergne of the Louisiana State Police public affairs section, Troop I, is listed as the media contact for the case, with the agency sharing a phone number and email for tips and press inquiries. Per the Louisiana State Police (Facebook) post, the contact number is 337-262-5880 and the email is [email protected], and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Legal implications
Couvillier currently faces a felony hit-and-run count along with multiple traffic-related offenses, and prosecutors will decide on formal charges once troopers wrap up their investigation. If convicted on the felony hit-and-run charge, defendants in Louisiana can face significant penalties, although court filings and an arraignment date in this specific case have not yet been made public.
