Wreck kills one, injures 18

GARDEN CITY - A Franklin woman was killed and 18 people were injured Wednesday when a Buick Century collided with a sheriff's office van carrying inmates.

Barbara Blanchard, 64, of Franklin, died in the crash, which happened just east of Louisiana 3215 on the U.S. 90 service road. State troopers responded to the crash at 10:11 a.m.

According to state police, the car Blanchard was riding in was traveling east on the south service road of U.S. 90 when it made a left turn in an attempt to access the eastbound on-ramp. The car was struck on its passenger side by the van, which was traveling west on the service road.

Blanchard, the rear seat passenger in the Buick, died at the scene.

The driver of the car, Beatrice Judice, 73, of Franklin, suffered minor injuries. Her front-seat passenger, Lena Businelle, 77, also of Franklin, suffered moderate injuries. Both women were taken to Franklin Foundation Hospital.

The driver of the van, Ronnie Fuselier, 29, of Baldwin, and 15 inmates suffered minor injuries. The injured inmates were taken to Iberia Medical Center, Teche Regional Hospital and Franklin Foundation Hospital.

Judice was cited for failure to yield.

The crash was the 61st fatal crash of the year for Louisiana State Police Troop I. Seventy people have died in those crashes.