On May 14, 2018, Kenneth Lewis of 37313 Cornerview Rd. Geismar, LA., age 30, pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide and 1st Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring. Lewis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. This guilty plea comes after a 2017 fatal crash that claimed the life of 6-year-old Samantha Keating of Paulina, LA. and injured others.
On February 25, 2017, troopers with Louisiana State Police responded to the scene of a two vehicle crash on I-10 eastbound just east of LA 44. During the course of the crash investigation, troopers learned that Kenneth Lewis was traveling eastbound in a Ford Mustang at a high rate of speed when he rear-ended a Toyota Highlander causing both vehicles to exit the roadway and crash into a wooded area along the interstate. Lewis was the sole occupant of the Mustang, and the Highlander was occupied by Samantha Keating along with her mother and father, Natalie and Anthony Keating. Natalie and Anthony were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital to be treated for moderate injuries and Samantha was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. While interviewing Lewis, troopers detected an alcohol like odor emitting from his person. Lewis submitted to the Standardized Field of Sobriety Tests which he failed. Lewis was subsequently arrested and transported to the Gonzales Police Department where he submitted to a chemical breath test. Lewis’ blood alcohol concentration was .200g%. Lewis was then booked into the Ascension Parish Detention Center.
Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Lewis was remanded and remains incarcerated at the Ascension Parish Detention Center. Lewis will appear before Judge Verdigets on June 11, 2018 for sentencing.