Evan Jefferson, 33, drowned after his pickup truck went over the side of the southbound span of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway early Sunday, the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office said. Mabel Soublet Labeaud was my mothers sister. Skin divers pulled the other bodies from the submersed bus. This scary bridge, also known simply as The Causeway, was constructed in just fourteen months, and opened on August 30, 1956. Louis Gagnier III, Hey Im Dorian Celestain. (2005 novel): the fictional Brockdale Bridge, by the Death Eaters (replaced by the real-world Millennium Bridge, London in the 2009 film) Final Destination 5 (2011 film) Until this is done, traffice must detour around the lake, adding 30 miles to the trip to Jackson. Yuan Zhao, . Watch:Chihuahua Leads Cops on a 'High-Speed Pursuit' Across Bridge, Veteran Aviator and Student Pilot He Helped Land After She Lost Her Nose Gear Take to the Skies Together, Oklahoma Man Charged After Allegedly Covering Up the Murder of the Woman His Wife Was Having an Affair With, Texas Man Continued His Date After Cops Say He Fatally Shot Someone Over $40, Autistic Artist Sebastian Franco Hopes to See Northern Lights as He Contemplates Going Completely Blind, Lori Vallow Daybell's Sister: 'You Expect Me to Just Keep Believing Without Ever Having a Question?'. Surrounding this lake are several major interstates, such as the I-10, I-12, and I-55. He lost control of his SUV on the downslope of the drawbridge hump about 8 miles from the north shore before hitting the bridge railing, overturning and plunging into the lake, authorities said. When it was confirmed on Monday morning, 8 June 1931, that six young friends from the Treme neighborhood had drowned the day before in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain; hundreds of relatives, friends and neighbors crowded into the homes of the deceased to comfort their families. After Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, videos collected showed damage to the bridge. I have a picture of their grave if anyone is interested. Unlike the Golden Gate Bridge, Seven Mile Bridge or Royal Gorge Bridge, it is scary for a different reason other than size. High winds are a dangerous threat, particularly to higher-profile vehicles. Flick a cigarette butt into the street? [5] The two bridges feature a bascule, which spans the navigation channel 8 miles (13km) south of the north shore. 30 11 59.2 N. 90 07 21.7 W. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge. Louisiana is also home to the Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, which at 5.8 miles (9.3km) is one of the longest railway bridges in the United States. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous),[3] while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge the longest bridge over water (aggregate).[4]. Depending on the type of bridge accident you are in, and the number of vehicles involved, the fault and liability for a bridge accident can be challenging. Bridge Inspection Causeway - Southbound. 6 Die in Lake Pontchartrain as Bus Plunges Off Bridge Hit by Barges, https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/17/archives/6-die-in-lake-pontchartrain-as-bus-plunges-off-bridge-hit-by-barges.html. Maintenance Crews are in the roadway inspecting the Causeway - Southbound. Dufrechou would not say how many tickets were issued during the four days, but said officers normally write about 1,000 citations per month. The legend of Julia Brown has become the area's most popular ghost story, spreading to paranormal shows and even Reddit, where some claim to have seen Brown cackling at the edge of the water. That butt could end up in a baby sharks mouth. My grandmother Marietta was Louis Gagnet sister and the sister of the two that died . In fact, Mary suggests that Julias song may have been more warning to the townsfolk than a curse against them. Clarke's death also comes days after Facebook users posted public pleas for information after a Mid-City woman named "Nath Clarke" walked away from her home late Friday night and had not been heard from since. She was known for her charms and her curses, as well as for singing eerie songs with her guitar on her porch. If you do not take an ambulance to the hospital from the scene, you should still get yourself to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible. Even sharks come to the lake to have babies in the summer and head back to the Gulf of Mexico after the babies grow up., A post shared by Lake Pontchartrain Basin Found (@l.p.b.f) on Jul 30, 2018 at 10:05am PDT, (The estuarine system) starts in East Feliciana parish and goes to Plaquemines, Trail said. [4] At that time there was some controversy in the United States as supporters of the former holder of the record, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, disagreed with Guinness World Records not calling the causeway the longest. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. A post shared by Lake Pontchartrain Basin Found (@l.p.b.f) on Sep 14, 2019 at 5:36am PDT, 6 ways to get to Jazz Fest, ranked from least to most strenuous. Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich identified the woman whose body was found on Monday in Lake Pontchartrain near Metairie. I came across this story during my genealogical research about a year ago, but you have provided much more detail and context for this tragedy. The lake is here, clean, and ready for recreationbut we still have to do our part and take care of it.. Until 1999, tolls were collected from traffic going in each direction. The southern end of the Manchac Swamp Bridge (on the western edge of Lake Pontchartrain) is the western end of the I-10 Bonnet Carr Spillway Bridge (on the southwestern edge of Lake Pontchartrain), and the northern end of the LaBranche Wetlands Bridge is the eastern end of the I-10 Bonnet Carr Spillway Bridge; so these three bridges, by name, are in fact one contiguous bridge. - Last updated Mon Apr 24 2023 at 8:05:02 AM. A large sinkhole, brought on by recent dredgings in the lake, was the cause of the tragic ending to six lives. If you've been injured in a car accident, call a New Orleans personal injury attorney at (504) 564-7342 to discuss your case. The bus driver and an Army sergeant were rescued by a teenager who arrived at the scene moments after the crash. 1951). The police department said the officer tried to intercept her and "without warning, she ran to the guardrail and jumped into the lake.". Must have been his cousins? She . This scary bridge, also known simply asThe Causeway, was constructed in just fourteen months, and opened on August 30, 1956. To put things in perspective, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, or Bay Bridge, is just over 8 miles long. Causeway police cracking down on speeders, careless drivers in wake of accidents, Robert Rhoden, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, claiming the life of 38-year-old David Zapot, designs to improve the bridge's retaining walls. But if you listen to the guides who take tourists into the Manchac swamp, the storm was the result of the wrath of Julia Brown. Thanks for sharing this story. The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California stretches three miles long and is a mile wide. Their car drove under the back of a semi . Brown, they say, laid a curse on the town because she felt taken for granteda curse that came true when the storm swept through on the day of her funeral and killed everyone around. It rests 90 stories between two tall cliffsover the Arkansas River. 1. Im interested in connecting with other Gagnets [10] In 2017, the toll was raised to fund safety improvements on the bridge. The popularity of the causeway grew because it allows drivers going the north or south to cut across the lake along the most direct route rather than circumventing the lake either to the east or west. Required fields are marked *. For National Estuaries Week, get to know the estuarine system that supports 2.1 million people. It opened in 1956 at a cost of $46 million (equivalent to $360 million in 2021 dollars). Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is one of the world's longest drives over a body of water and is an absolute must-drive when you visit New Orleans. Eleven people have died in the accidents. When fog procedures are in effect, stay in the right lane onlyand do not pass. On certain tours, the guides take people past a run-down swamp graveyard marked "1915"its a prop, but a good place to tell people that Browns ghost still haunts the swamp, as do the souls of those who perished in the hurricane. 9 amazing hiking trails near New Orleans, mapped. NEW ORLEANS . Your email address will not be published. The Maestri Bridge comes close, but runs short by two-tenths of a mile at roughly 4.8 miles (7.7km) in total length. Four of the victims were to have been married soon: George . It is not uncommon for rescue personnel to receive distress calls to the scene of an incident on the bridge where a driver is unable to proceed driving across the bridge due to fear of the bridge and its length. In order to get from Southern Florida to the Keys, a driver needs to take the Overseas Highway. It is the tenth largest natural lake in the country and has a thriving ecosystem for many aquatic species. Hi Louis-your grandfather was my grandmothers brother. The accident occurred in the same lake in which an Eastern Air Lines jetliner fell last Feb ruary, killing all 58 persons aboard. Depending on where you are on the bridge and the traffic at the time of an accident, it can take a significant time for the police or paramedics to reach you while on the Pontchartrain Bridge. Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge is 24 mile-long and links New Orleans to Mandeville, in the US state of Louisiana, crossing the Lake Ponchartrain. On a clear day with no hazardous weather conditions or traffic jams, you can cross the 24-mile bridge in just 25 minutes. The bridges are supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. It was sent to us by Phil Gagnet, a relative of He declined to provide specifics about the methods of stepped-up enforcement but said, "Officers are all over the bridge.". She was raising her sisters since their mother died when they were young. Why Is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway a Risk to Drivers and Passengers? Thats just one misconception circulating about the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, which is home to 2.1 million people and even more animals, fish, and insects. The crash scene was immediately south of a welllighted turnaround a spot where sightseers can head back rather than go across the entire bridge. Some of Louisianas other notable bridges due to dangers or deficiencies include: There are certain steps you must take after a car accident to keep you safe, but when you are in an accident on a bridge you must take extra care to get help quickly and find safety however possible. Hi Im Jane Badon, this is my grandparents tomb. Four sections of concrete roadway and the bus tumbled into the lake. While there are plenty of walking paths in New Orleans, including its expansive Mississippi River trails, there are not a lot of places to hike in the city. Since starting his firm in 1999, Stewart J. Guss has had the honor of representing clients from all over the world, helping them recover from even the most catastrophic injuries. When asked why she is so bothered by the bridge, she explained: It's functionally obsolete, there are not even any emergency pull-offs. Price With 20% Increase. A drive northbound across Lake Pontchartrain on the world's longest overwater bridge. S. Sgt. Taking a New Orleans Motorcycle Class: What Should You Look For? Encyclopedia Titanica article on Isidor Straus. A special thanks to Jane Gillardoni Badon for bringing this story to my attention and for the oral historyshe provided on her uncle, George Labeaud, who was one of the sixvictims. See the article in its original context from. Back when Brown was alive at the turn of the 20th century, the towns of Ruddock, Frenier, and Napton were prosperous settlements clustered on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain, sustained by logging the centuries-old cypress trees and farming cabbages in the thick black soil. NEW ORLEANS . Lake Pontchartrain is many things: a peaceful waterfront setting and the site of the worlds longest continuous bridge, to name a few. The weather can get so terrifying on Michigans Mackinac Bridge and the lanes are so narrow that the bridge authority offers to help drive overwhelmed motorists across. The northbound span is actually slightly longer than the companion southbound span. The 23.87 mile long bridge spans 1/1000th of the earth's circumference on its course between Metairie and Mandeville. This three stage model for the Lake Pontchartrain differs from previous hypothesis that Lake Pontchartrain is a passive . The reasons for drowning are diverse and range from suicide, to accidents or murders. Forty-thousand drivers cross the causeway each day, but Sunday about 10:30 a.m., 38-year-old David Zapot of Lacombe, Louisiana, didn't make it. My grandmother would tell us the story of their drowning. In a similar accident Aug. 1, 1974, on the nearby 24milelong Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, a barge knocked out three 80foot sections of the flat portion of the roadway, killing three people. I believe this was my Grandfathers brothers kids. However, Guinness World Records, using the criteria of measurement that included aggregate structures, such as land bridges on the ends and an under-sea tunnel, stated that the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 26.5mi (42.6km) long. Land cant be seen by drivers who are crossing the middle 8 miles of thebridge, making this one of the scariest bridges in the U.S. Police who patrolthe bridge have reported having to rescue anxious drivers who becomescared while crossing the bridge and literally stop their cars on the middle ofthe roadway. There have been many notorious accidents along the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway that have ended in death for one or more victims. My mother Anita Bertrand was five years old at time of Lucilles death. In recent years, projects are underway to heighten the railings across the bridge to reduce the likelihood of vehicles falling over the bridge. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Its a great day to raise awareness about the impact of marine debris and educate folks about where their stormwater goes, said Kristi Trail, executive director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF). ", "Actualits Document/vnement: le dernier voyage du Saint-Gran", "Barrett, Lucas 1837-1862 geologist and naturalist", "Mystery of the world's most-kissed woman", "G&S: the Lennon/McCartney of the 19th century", "The Mysterious Death of Starr Faithfull Reveals a Boston Mayor's Sordid Secret", "Rainy Weather Expected to Hang On Tonight", "Kentucky Derby-winning jockey has short career, mysterious death", "ARKY: Life of Vaughan Recalled on 33rd Anniversary of Death of Baseball Hall of Famer", "Former Wife of Late Atomic Energy Commission Official Drowns", "Dpt de gerbes: Commmoration des 51 ans du drame de la Passe Canon", "Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Christoph Prinz von Preuen", TV Actor Eric Fleming Is Drowned, St. Petersburg Times. METAIRIE, La. When you get on the bridge you have to get your heads away from these things and pay attention only to driving. Top row (left to right) : Roy Frederick Ennemoser, Lucille Doublet, Alma Gagnet, Bottom row (left to right) : Nettie Bennett, George Labeaud, Elva Gagnet. When calling for assistance, request that both EMS and the police arrive at the scene. Prior to the causeway, residents of St. Tammany Parish used either the Maestri Bridge on U.S. Route 11 or the Rigolets Bridge on U.S. Route 90, both near Slidell, Louisiana; or on the west side, via U.S. Route 51 through Manchac, Louisiana.[12]. However, this does not mean you cannot make use of what you have available to collect any evidence you can. [4], The southern end of the causeway at Metairie, Louisiana, in 1998, Last edited on 18 September 2022, at 11:18, Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, "Causeway lighting project cost double expectations", "Longest bridge over water (aggregate length)", "PILE RESTORATION OF THE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN CAUSEWAY", "The History of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway", "6 Die in Lake Pontchartrain as Bus Plunges Off Bridge Hit by Barges", "Toll Tags | Causeway Bridge Tolls & Fees", "Lake Pontchartrain Causeway named National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark", "Causeway refuses to relinquish 'world's longest bridge' title to China", Template:Attached KML/Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, https://web.archive.org/web/20090806091006/https://library.rice.edu/collections/WRC/finding-aids/manuscripts/0488, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway & Southern Toll Plaza Bridge, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway & Southern Toll Plaza Bridge, Canopy, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway & Southern Toll Plaza Bridge, Toll Booth, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway & Southern Toll Plaza Bridge, Administration Building, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway & Southern Toll Plaza Bridge, Garage, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Pontchartrain_Causeway&oldid=1110925027, This page was last edited on 18 September 2022, at 11:18. Nettie Bennet was right in the next block at 913 North Derbigny and Lucille Doublet at 928 North Derbigny. If you are interested in connecting with them, please send me an email to ( Lolitac454@aol.com) and I will send you their contact information. At 4 oclock, however, the storm had become so violent that the negroes left the house in a stampede, abandoning the corpse. The pedestrian lane of the bridge is very narrow and as cars drive by and water rushes from below, the crossover is not for the faint of heart. Are Motorcycle Accidents Handled Differently Than Car Crashes in the USA? The enhanced enforcement follows three accidents this year, including two last month, in which vehicles plunged off the southbound span. Travel experts have called it scary for drivers, who might feel the wind whipping across the bridge. A pick-up truck is fully submerged in brackish waters after being driven into Lake Pontchartrain at around 11:40 a.m. Thursday, New Orleans police say. So . Fog is one of the most common culprits of weather-related accidents on the bridge due to limited visibility. With the assistance of an attorney, you will be able to seek compensation for any losses you incur after the accident such as medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and damages to your vehicle. Katrina . Hi all, When the storm cleared on October 1, Frenier, Ruddock, and Napton had been entirely destroyedhomes flattened, buildings demolished, and miles of railway tracks washed away. $3.60. NEW ORLEANS, June 16 A Continental Trailways bus plunged into Lake Pontchartrain before dawn today when two heavy barges tore a 224foot gap in the lake's causeway, the world's longest bridge. into Lake Pontchartrainand if this sparks your interest, you can get to know the lake more intimately during the annual Beach Sweep from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. Dont Let Texass Total Loss Statute Become a Total Scam. Home News & Opinion Staying Safe on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Over a four-day period during Thanksgiving week, officers wrote 25 percent more traffic tickets than normal, Dufrechou said. How long is the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain? The bridges traveling north and south connect the cities of Mandeville and Metairie, connecting to New Orleans. Cvitanovich's report says 22-year-old Nathalie . Do not get out of your vehicle on the bridge to do this, as you are placing yourself in unnecessary danger. It seemed clear that there had been some kind of tragedy. The railroad was the towns' lifeline, bringing groceries from New Orleans and hauling away the logs and cabbages as far as Chicago. It stated: Little did the unfortunate six, whose souls have been claimed by the waters of Lake Pontchartrain think on Sunday last, that their bodies were to be offered in sacrifice for the failure of the local municipality to provide its Negro citizenry with an adequate bathing beachBut what care the city fathers? Around 3 P.M., as they all continued to hold hands, they happened to stray from their original path and were suddenly sucked below by some strong force. I remember as a child he would tell me the story of this event and how it affected him. George and Elva were planning to marry so she used the money for the wedding to build the tomb. The northern terminus is in Mandeville, Louisiana, a north shore suburb of New Orleans. They earn their keep by filtering water. Brown, sometimes also called Julie White or Julia Black, is described in local legend as a voodoo priestess who lived at the edge of the swamp and worked with residents of the town of Frenier. As the Causeway Bridge accidents show, car accident can be c aused, not just by negligent drivers, but by road conditions as well. To alleviate congestion on the south shore, toll collections were eliminated on the northbound span. Beach Sweep from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. NEW ORLEANS, June 16 A Continental Trailways bus plunged into Lake Pontchartrain before dawn today when two heavy barges tore a 224foot gap in the lake's causeway, the world's longest bridge. My name is Louis Gagnier III, Louis Gagnet was my grandfather. Please merge right lane in the area of the crews and reduce speed. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous),[3] while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge became the longest bridge over water (aggregate). Dufrechou suggested that motorists not count on a few miles-per-hour cushion between the 65 mph limit and the point at which police will pull them over. The fault segment which offsets the Hwy 11 bridge at North Shore dips southward toward the fishing village of Irish Bayou and probably intersects basement near the location of maximum observed intensity at Irish Bayou. That makes it the longest bridge over continuous water in the world. The idea of a bridge spanning Lake Pontchartrain dates back to the early 19th century and Bernard de Marigny, the founder of Mandeville. It rises just 16 feet above the waters of Lake Pontchartrain, but the real fear factor is that it never seems to end it spans nearly 38.62km (24 miles) from the Metairie suburb of New Orleans to Mandeville on the . Even though the bridge is registered as a historical landmark, its hair-raising size and subjectivity to weather can be a danger for pedestrians as well. The accidents that take place along the bridge are mostly motor vehicle accidents with multiple car involvement or in some cases, single-vehicle collisions. "Enforcement has really been ratcheted up," bridge General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said Wednesday (Dec. 3). [11], The opening of the causeway boosted the fortunes of small North Shore communities by reducing drive time into New Orleans by up to 50 minutes, bringing the North Shore into the New Orleans metropolitan area. Call a New Orleans Car Accident Attorney. Willie Labeaud and Eva Labeaud. Tolls were reinstated by mid-October of that year. Put on your headlights. Her son George died with his girlfriend Elva, Elvas sister Alma and 3 others. The website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. Bridge commuters often speak of a such a cushion, although officials say there is no such thing. This included not just the bridge, but three approach roads on the north end and a long stretch of road on the south end. Louisiana is no stranger to bridges. One vehicle plunged off the northbound span, which has higher retaining walls, during that period. One woman was unidentified. Two of the accidents were fatal. The lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet but averages 12 to 14 feet deep. Various factors increase the chances of an accident on the bridge: Some of the most common weather threats along the Pontchartrain Causeway include rain, winds, and fog. Lucille Doublets nephew Claude Doublet of Mobile is a U.S. Air Force veteran retired MFD FIREFIGHTER.Claude is now in his early 80s and is the widower of Bernice Hickman, my wifes cousin and a descendant of the Creole family Colin which was changed by the British to Collins. [15] Supporters made this claim based on its own definition i.e., the length of a bridge physically over water and concluded that the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway spans 23.79mi (38.28km),[15] and was therefore the longest. Although the bridge itself is not particularly high or the lake waters below it are particularly deep, any collision on either of these bridges can cause significant injuries or fatalities. Tucked awayon the southeasternpart of Louisiana, the causeway is an absolute must-drive when you visit New Orleans. Your email address will not be published. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is not one bridge but rather two parallel bridges that run directly through the heart of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. Mary notes that because the towns had no doctors, Brown likely served as the local healer (or traiteur, a folk healer in Louisiana tradition) and midwife, using whatever knowledge and materials she could find to care for local residents. [8], On June 16, 1964, six people died when barges tore a gap in the bridge and a bus plunged into the lake. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Authorities questioned towboat personnel in an effort to learn why the barges rammed into the 24 mile long bridge. La. One of the few survivors later described how hed clung to an upturned cypress tree and shut his ears against the screams of those drowning in the swamp. Im Nathaniel LaBeaud, and this is the first time Im even learning about this tragedy. It has been featured in Hollywood movies, including the James Bond film License to Kill, 2 Fast 2 Furious and the Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbuster True Lies. ), "The Unholy Monk,", Learn how and when to remove this template message, Henry of Antioch, Henry of Poitiers or Henri de Poitiers, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, "Irrational Pythagoreans Hippasus Expelled! For further understanding on this topic please read the following two articles on this blog: Summertime at Seabrook (1928-1945) January 19, 2013 + On Segregated Shores: The Story of Lincoln Beach (1938-1964) January 19, 2013. In fact, if you have ever traveled on any of these interstates, you may have noticed a roadway in the distance on Lake Pontchartrain. Ernest Vaughn, 38, of Jackson, Miss., the driver, was reported in fair condition after abdominal surgery. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (French: Chausse du lac Pontchartrain), also known simply as The Causeway, is a fixed link composed of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana, United States.The longer of the two bridges is 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long. The bus left New Orleans at 1 A.M. on a 210mile trip to Jackson. The bridge, located outside Anchorage, is designed to withstand quakes. From 1969 until 2011, it was listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011, in response to the opening of the longer Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: continuous and aggregate lengths over water. Please send it to Lolitac454@aol.com..Thanks so much, Lolita. There are several photographs and videos of the Louisiana Lake Pontchartrain causeway and transmission lines showing what globe enthusiasts claim to be visua. Are there Other Unsafe Louisiana Bridges? The toll changed from $3.00 with cash and $2.00 with a toll tag to $5.00 with cash and $3.00 with a toll tag.