On October 7, 2024, Kendal Dollar of 284 Union Rd. 823 Strong, AR, age 39, pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide and 3rd Degree Feticide. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with a fatal crash which claimed the life of 23-year-old Tia Gorrell of Houma, as well as her unborn child. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle was the lead prosecutor, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau.
On August 1, 2023, Louisiana State Police responded to a fatal crash which occurred on LA 308 near LA 1011 in Assumption Parish. The investigation revealed that a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by Kendal Dollar was traveling southbound on LA 308. At the same time, a 2014 Ram 2500 pulling a camper trailer followed by a 2016 Toyota Corolla, driven by Tia Gorrell, was traveling northbound on LA 308. Dollar’s vehicle crossed the centerline sideswiping the Ram and camper before striking the Toyota Corolla head on. Gorrell, who was pregnant at the time of the crash, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene. Dollar was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries. Witnesses told troopers that the vehicle driven by Dollar had crossed the centerline multiple times prior to the crash. Dollar voluntarily submitted to a blood draw to determine the presence of alcohol and/or any controlled dangerous substances in his blood. The blood sample was submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. The tests carried out detected the presence of Amphetamines and Methamphetamines in Dollar’s blood at the time of the crash. A warrant of arrest was obtained for Dollar who was subsequently arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.
Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Kendal Dollar was sentenced to 20 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.