Charged in girl's death

An Erath woman cited in a crash that killed her 4-year-old granddaughter was indicted this week on new charges of vehicular homicide after she reportedly failed a drug test, prosecutors said.

Susan Hebert, 47, 3134 Anna Drive, turned herself in to authorities Thursday afternoon and was charged in the death of Katelyn Hebert.

The indictment, handed down Wednesday by an Iberia Parish grand jury, came after Hebert reportedly tested positive for an illegal substance following the October crash. 

Assistant District Attorney Robert Odinet declined to specify the toxicology results but said alcohol was not involved. State Police said drugs were suspected after Hebert told a state trooper she had a prescription for Lortab — a pain reliever containing the narcotic hydrocodone — though she added she did not take the medication the day of the crash.

Before the indictment, Hebert was cited because Katelyn, at 4 years old, was not supposed to be riding in the front seat under state law. Katelyn also was wearing her seat belt improperly — the shoulder strap was behind the head rest — and broke her neck in the crash, State Police said.

Law enforcement officials and local advocates of child car seat safety have pointed to the crash as an example of how car seats can mean the difference between life and death in a crash. Katelyn’s 1-year-old sister, Kylee, was properly restrained in a car seat in the back seat and sustained only minor injuries even though the car flipped several times, State Police said.

“With all of the public awareness strongly encouraging the importance of keeping children properly restrained, this child should never have been riding around otherwise,” said Tracy LeMaire, a local coordinator of the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force. “The death of a child is always a tragic event, especially when it is a result of circumstances that could have been prevented.”

The crash happened on a Sunday morning along Louisiana 89 just north of Delcambre after Hebert lost control of the car at a slight curve and veered off the road, State Police said. Hebert, the driver, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected through the driver’s side window.

She sustained moderate injuries, State Police said, and was treated at Abbeville General Hospital.

If convicted of vehicular homicide, Hebert faces a minimum sentence of two years and a $2,000 fine. Vehicular homicide carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $15,000 fine.

Hebert was released from the Iberia Parish Correctional Center on $50,000 bond.